Roots of Hope Case Study – Culturally Appropriate/Lived Experience/Community-centred

Culturally Appropriate guiding principle: Develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that respect a diversity of cultures and are responsive and appropriate (for the overall community and specific subpopulations).

Lived Experience guiding principle: Recognize the important role of suicide attempt and suicide loss survivors, persons with lived experience, individuals bereaved by suicide, and caregivers in guiding suicide prevention efforts.

Community-centred guiding principle: Develop initiatives that are community led, tailored to its current level of readiness, and driven by engaging and empowering local stakeholders.

What links these three guiding principles is the commitment to discovering, learning about, and considering the unique characteristics and history in each Roots of Hope community. They also help project teams adapt their approach and be sensitive to the realities and strengths in their local area.

Project leads identified three key themes in connection with these principles:

1. Listen — There is great value in listening to what matters to a Roots of Hope community and learning about their history of addressing suicide.
2. The lived experience perspective is essential — The unique perspectives of people who have lived and living experience of suicide are key to designing and implementing an effective local project.
3. Be respectful and sensitive to the needs of diverse cultures — Effective Roots of Hope projects are sensitive to the diverse history, cultural traditions, needs, and priorities of different groups within their community. This knowledge is invaluable for building trusting relationships and designing and implementing local projects.

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