SARAA has signed the Changing the Landscape Statement:
The Changing the Landscape Statement is our way to fight for all LGBTIQA+SB people whose lives have ended too soon through suicide. We remember their lives, their struggles and forever their place in our communities.
The statement recommendations:
Three pillars of foundational change that will have significant and enduring impact for LGBTIQA+SB people and communities toward the prevention of suicide, the wellbeing of LGBTIQA+SB people impacted by suicide loss and those in our communities who provide care and support.
RECOGNITION
We call for the suicide prevention, mental health, and broader healthcare sector to recognise and commit to:
Taking action to integrate the diverse expertise and lived experiences of LGBTIQA+SB people into all research, programs, policies and strategies.
The need for LGBTIQA+SB community led suicide prevention responses, as a necessary complement to generalised services.
Commit to working with LGBTIQA+SB communities around improved data collection to support robust suicide prevention responses.
LGBTIQA+SB COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
LGBTIQA+SB leadership is foundational to ensuring inclusive and meaningful change. We call for:
LGBTIQA+SB people to be included in the development and implementation of all projects, programs, research and strategies from the outset.
Investment in the voices of LGBTIQA+SB people with lived experience of suicide across all levels of governments, research, organisation and strategy.
Investment in LGBTIQA+SB peer support programs.
FUNDING
LGBTIQA+SB community-led work requires sustainable and on-going funding to ensure quality work that grows and responds to changing needs. We call for:
Funding, recognition, support and value to be given to LGBTIQA+SB community-led work in suicide prevention, led by people with lived experience of suicide.
Funding proportionate to the scope to of the issue, reflective of the diversity of our communities, size of our population and severity of impact suicide has on LGBTIQA+SB communities.
Funding to be embedded, rather than being reliant on ‘innovation’ grants, which often support the development and initial implementation of programs which are then abandoned due to lack of resources.
Funding to be prioritised that fills LGBTIQA+SB community-led suicide prevention service gaps, which will provide vital support and enable greater opportunity for collaboration between LGBTIQA+SB peer support programs and the broader healthcare system.
Read more or sign the statement here: https://www.changingthelandscape.com.au/
