We Are So Glad You’re Here

If you have lived experience with suicidal thoughts, you are not alone.

You are a hero, and your story matters.

Additional Resources for Healing and Hope

Community and Support

One of the primary reasons people consider suicide is because of isolation, loss of community, or feeling alone. Even when surrounded by others, many who have walked this path feel misunderstood, judged, or out of place. But when a community of people can say, “me too,” it helps ease the isolation. Veterans, those in the LGBTQIA+ community, and postpartum mothers are just a few groups who can find strength, hope, and belonging by gathering with others who share their lived experience.

Getting Involved

Much like AA emphasizes helping another person as a path to healing, many with lived experience of suicidal thinking find purpose in giving back. Becoming part of the solution—whether through advocacy, peer support, or volunteering—can be transformative. Consider getting connected with a local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Foundations of Lived Experience Video Project

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has produced a powerful video featuring leaders who pioneered the lived-experience movement. Their stories highlight the foundations of today’s best practices and point toward the future of suicide prevention.

Encouraging Testimony and Storytelling

Maya Angelou once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” People with lived experience often carry wisdom, insights, and tools from their journey that could save lives. Yet, opportunities to share these stories are often limited. Faith communities, families, and friends can offer meaningful inclusion by asking thoughtful questions, listening deeply, and giving space for lived-experience voices to be heard.

Now Matters Now

Now Matters Now is a nonprofit led by people with lived experience, for people with lived experience. They offer support groups, skills training, and practical resources to equip and encourage those walking this journey.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

-Maya Angelou

Books for Church Leaders

Embracing the Dawn

Life, Death, and Reinvention

Fighting the Blues as a Black Woman: How I Survived Suicidal Depression

Bibliographic Recommendations