Centreing Culture, Connection, and Safety in Suicide Prevention: My Conversation with SafeSide

I was recently invited to participate in an on-camera conversation with the team at SafeSide Prevention, as part of their commitment to strengthening suicide prevention approaches here in Western Australia. This opportunity was more than just an interview; it was a meaningful dialogue about what safety, support, and connection truly mean for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities who may be experiencing suicidal distress.

As someone who carries the lived experience of deep grief, caregiving, migration, and the painful reality of suicide loss, I often reflect on how mainstream models of suicide prevention can inadvertently miss the mark for culturally diverse individuals and families. Too often, the systems designed to help are framed through a monocultural lens, overlooking the profound role that language, cultural identity, intergenerational dynamics, and belonging play in shaping how distress is experienced - and how help is received.

In my conversation with SafeSide, I emphasised that at the heart of effective suicide prevention for CaLD communities is genuine human connection. Not tokenistic engagement. Not transactional checklists. But a commitment to deeply listening, being curious, and building trust across cultural differences. When someone feels seen - not as a problem to be solved, but as a person with history, family, culture, and dignity- the possibility for safety and hope becomes real.

I am genuinely heartened to see SafeSide’s willingness to reflect on these complexities and embed the voices of lived experience - particularly from diverse communities - into the very fabric of their training programs. This work matters. It is an important step toward ensuring that suicide prevention isn’t one-size-fits-all but is responsive, relational, and relevant to the people it seeks to serve.

The SafeSide program is now being rolled out across Western Australia, with funding support from the Mental Health Commission of WA. It’s encouraging to know that organisations across the state will benefit from a model that is evolving to better reflect the diverse realities of the communities we live and work in.

I’m proud to contribute to this dialogue, alongside others with lived experience, passionate practitioners, and organisations committed to transformation.