Holding Space for Conversations about Suicide
Holding Space is an interactive two-hour training that introduces paradigm shifts and helps build skills to support people who are thinking about suicide. It is based on the Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) approach, developed by the Wildflower Alliance in 2008. The approach began as peer support groups visioned, created, and facilitated by and for people who have or are struggling with suicidal thoughts. It has since grown into an approach that can aid anyone (family, friends, providers, first responders, peer supporters, and more) to navigate situations that involve speaking about, sitting with, understanding, and moving through thoughts of wanting to die.
Alternatives to Suicide is built on a foundation that centers:
responsibility to other people – not for or over
responses to injustice
consent and choice
healing in communities
The Alternatives to Suicide Charter defines the principles and values of support groups using the Alt2Su approach, and this Community Psychology article includes a deeper dive into the approach through an interview with Caroline Mazel-Carlton, Training Director at the Wildflower Alliance. We highly suggest you check this out to learn more about Alt2Su!
In the training, we present a dialogue model using the acronym, VCVC, which stands for Validation, Curiosity, Vulnerability, and Community. The model is not linear and can be used in supporting people through a variety of difficult situations related to mental health, addiction, trauma, etc. Training attendees participate in a ‘beliefs and attitudes’ exercise at the start of the training which opens up a larger discussion about the ways people are often criminalized and pathologized for expressing a desire to die (i.e., unwanted interventions like police involvement or forced treatment or hospitalization). Those conversations plant the seeds for understanding instead of predicting, exploring stories, seeing individual distress in the context of larger systems, and supporting consent and choice.
Participants then learn and get the opportunity to practice phrases they might use to support someone thinking about suicide.
Safe Communities staff recently presented this training to the Suicide Prevention and Harm Reduction Coalition (SPHRC). Member Erin Kollenbroich, Urgent Care Program Specialist at Dane County Human Services, shared: “Our world would be a better place if this model guided how we show up for one another—not just in moments of crisis.”
This presentation is a collection of the talents, skills, time, and personal experiences from so many people who have poured their hearts into supporting those who are struggling, and we are excited to keep expanding the reach of their transformative ideas. The presentation slides and zine were designed and illustrated by Alyse Ruriani. Spanish versions were translated by Romilia Schlueter. Current trainers in Dane County include Leah Rolando, Jean Papalia, and Romilia Schlueter.
The Holding Space training has been delivered to high schoolers, college students, older adults, peer specialists, service facilitators, case managers, first responders, and faith leaders. We continue to update the content and format to meet the needs of specific communities as requested and welcome feedback along the way. The presentation is appropriate for a variety of audiences in Madison and Dane County including businesses, community-based nonprofits, health and behavioral health care organizations, community centers, parent and caregiver groups, youth organizations, and more.
Peer Support Groups
Alt2Su peer support groups exist all over Wisconsin (and beyond!) both online and in person. Mental Health America of Wisconsin lists active groups on their Alt2Su webpage here. OutReach and Solstice House have started a weekly Queer Alt2Su Group in Madison on Tuesdays from 4-6:30pm at OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center (2701 N International Lane #101, Madison, WI). These groups are facilitated by people who have their own experiences with thoughts of suicide. You do not have to be actively struggling or in crisis to attend a group. Sometimes an Alt2Su group just serves as a place to connect with people on other topics – there are times we don’t even talk about suicide!
We highly recommend checking out the Wildflower Alliance’s trainings if you are seeking more education on suicide and related issues. In addition to When Conversation Turns to Suicide and Alt2Su Facilitator trainings, the Wildflower Alliance offers A Harm Reduction Approach to Self Injury, Working With Hearing Voices and Unusual Beliefs, Anti-Oppression trainings, and more. Subscribe to their calendar here!
Send us an e-mail to schedule a training or for more information: suicideprevention@safecommunities.org
