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Community-Based Participatory Research and Community Empowerment for Suicide Prevention

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A Positive Psychological Approach to Suicide

Part of the book series: Advances in Mental Health and Addiction ((AMHA))

Abstract

Although traditional suicide prevention programs have had moderate effects in reducing suicide, there is a need for community-based approaches that embrace positive psychological principles, such as community empowerment, and which considers community needs and values. A new paradigm, critical suicidology, is discussed, which is more contextualized, subjective, historical, ecological, social justice-oriented, poetic, and socio-political than traditional suicidology, allowing suicide prevention efforts to capitalize on the strengths of a group or community. Prioritizing local knowledge and social change, community-based participatory approaches are particularly effective for use with vulnerable and marginalized groups, and often emphasize personal and community agency. Using a case example from an Inuit community, we illustrate how the success of a community intervention effort must involve an array of efforts to frame suicide prevention within the context of community history and needs and must involve community members and support at all stages of implementation. We argue that, by respecting and considering sociocultural determinants of health and what they mean to community members, and by promoting community growth through suicide prevention, efforts to prevent suicide will be increasingly value-driven, motivated and sustained. As such, this critical framework can support a positive psychological approach, by providing a base for understanding the needs, strengths, and goals for growth of a community suicide prevention effort.

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Kral, M.J., Kidd, S. (2018). Community-Based Participatory Research and Community Empowerment for Suicide Prevention. In: Hirsch, J., Chang, E., Kelliher Rabon, J. (eds) A Positive Psychological Approach to Suicide . Advances in Mental Health and Addiction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03225-8_12

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