What is It?
Storytelling around suicide prevention involves the intentional sharing of messages, narratives, and lived experiences to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and inspire action — while protecting the safety and dignity of those affected.
Key features include:
- Reviewing language for safety, sensitivity, and alignment with best practices
- Consulting on communication plans across platforms — including websites, social media, traditional media, events, and newsletters
- Balancing authenticity and responsibility, especially when sharing lived experiences or loss
- Framing messages to promote help-seeking, hope, connection, and recovery
Storytelling is a powerful tool — but when it involves suicide, it must be done with care, intention, and adherence to evidence-informed guidelines.
Who is It For?
This guidance is for non-profit leaders, communications teams, social media managers, program staff, and anyone crafting messaging about suicide prevention or sharing stories related to veterans or suicide loss.
It’s especially critical for:
- Organizations highlighting lived experience
- Campaigns involving storytelling from survivors, veterans, or family members
- Media outreach, public awareness, and advocacy efforts
What is the Intended Outcome and Impact?
For the organization:
- Safe and effective messaging: Communications are aligned with national guidelines (e.g., Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide)
- Increased credibility and trust: Thoughtful storytelling shows respect and responsibility
- Risk reduction: Avoids content that could unintentionally cause harm or contagion
- Stronger engagement: Builds authentic connection with audiences, funders, and stakeholders
- Mission alignment: Stories reinforce goals of prevention, healing, and support
For the veteran:
- Hope and connection: Veterans hear stories that reflect their struggles — and their potential for recovery
- Reduced stigma: Open, respectful conversations about suicide reduce shame and isolation
- Empowerment: Veterans who want to share their story can do so with support and structure
- Safety and support: Stories promote help-seeking and link to accessible resources
How Technical Assistance Can Help with Caring Contacts integration:
- Message review: Ensure communications follow safe messaging guidelines and promote hope, help-seeking, and recovery.
- Lived experience support: Guide safe, respectful sharing of veteran and survivor stories.
- Strategy consultation: Help develop messaging plans across platforms (social media, events, outreach).
- Staff training: Build team capacity in safe storytelling and response protocols.
- Resource sharing: Provide templates, best-practice guides, and safety checklists.
- Content collaboration: Co-create or refine stories and materials aligned with prevention goals.