Submissions

Who Can Submit?

We welcome contributions from individuals with lived experience and those who care deeply about supporting mental health and suicide prevention. If any of the following resonate with you, your voice matters and we invite you to share:

• You have personally lived with suicidal thoughts or survived a suicide attempt and wish to share what helped you in times of crisis.
• You have lost a loved one — a friend, family member, or colleague — to suicide and wish to honor their memory or reflect on your experience.
• You are offering support to someone at risk or have empowered others to seek help and choose life.
• You are involved in providing or promoting resources for emotional well-being and suicide prevention.
• You may not have direct experience, but you feel strongly about the importance of encouraging others to hold on and seek support.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for authentic, heartfelt contributions that express hope, resilience, solidarity, or personal insight. These may include:

• Personal stories and reflections
• Poems or letters
• Paintings
• Music
• Collage
• Sculptures, Clay
• Handcraft
• Visual art, drawings, or photography
• Spoken word or short videos
• Messages of hope or encouragement

N.B. Your submission can be anonymous if you prefer.

Purpose of the Platform

This platform aims to:

• Create a space where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported.
• Reduce stigma around suicide and mental health.
• Foster collective understanding and healing.
• Empower individuals and communities to care for one another.

How to Submit
To submit your contribution, you can upload it using a secure account system with a username and password

All submissions will be published anonymously, unless you select otherwise. While we value the openness and courage of individuals who may wish to share their identity, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy and personal security of everyone who participates. Given the potential visibility of this platform, we aim to protect contributors from any form of unwanted attention or harmful behavior.

To encourage thoughtful engagement, platform visitors will have the option to contact us with comments or messages addressed to the contributors. We will review all messages before forwarding them to ensure they are supportive and respectful, maintaining the anonymity of both parties. Whether or not you choose to receive or respond to such messages is entirely optional and can be indicated during the application process. We will forward only approved messages on your behalf, and we will never disclose your identity or contact information without your explicit consent.

Why your voice is important
By sharing your contribution, you will be helping to increase public awareness on the importance of suicide prevention. We hope that, over time, this collective effort will make it easier for individuals in need to access the support and care they deserve.

We also recognize that creative expression can be a powerful outlet—both for the individual creating the work and for those who engage with it. This initiative offers an opportunity to reflect, communicate, and foster understanding in a space where such connection is critically important.

Guidelines for Submission Selection
Purpose
In presenting personal expressions related to suicide and mental health, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals who engage with this platform—especially those currently at risk, those with lived experience, and those who are grieving a loss. To that end, all submissions will be reviewed for alignment with safe communication practices.

These guidelines aim to:

• Prevent the unintentional spread of stigma, fear, or false information
• Encourage empathy and reduce potential harm to vulnerable audiences
• Uphold the dignity and privacy of all individuals represented

Content Guidelines

To protect contributors, viewers, and the integrity of the platform, we welcome submissions that are respectful, sensitive, and supportive in tone. Accepted content should:

• Portray experiences, reflections, or tributes with care and empathy, avoiding sensationalism or romanticization.
• Focus on personal stories, emotions, or messages of remembrance and hope, rather than detailed descriptions of suicide or self-harm.
• Use non-identifiable visuals, such as symbolic or abstract imagery, to respect the privacy of individuals and their families.
• Maintain a visually and emotionally considerate tone, free from explicit, graphic, or distressing content.
• Use language that honors those who have died and those who grieve, without judgment or stigma.
• Promote understanding, compassion, and awareness, avoiding harmful terms or stereotypes.

Language Use – What to Use and What to Avoid
Using accurate, respectful, and non-stigmatizing language is essential. Please refer to the following guidance when preparing your submission:

✅ Preferred Language (Use):
“Died by suicide” or “Death by suicide”
“Took their own life” or “Ended their life”
“A suicide” 
“Suicide attempt” or “Attempted suicide”
“Person at risk of suicide”
“Lived experience of suicide”

🚫 Language to Avoid (Do Not Use):
“Committed suicide” (implies criminality)
“Suicide victim” or “The body” (depersonalizes the individual)
“Cry for help” or “Attention-seeking” (dismisses valid suffering)
“Successful/unsuccessful/failed attempt” (implies judgment or achievement)
“Suicide hotspots” or “Suicide waves” (can sensationalize or encourage imitation)

Final Note
Submissions that adhere to the guidelines will be reviewed for clarity, relevance, and alignment with the platform’s mission. We reserve the right to edit content for language and safety, in consultation with the contributor when necessary.

If you are uncertain whether your submission complies with these guidelines, please feel free to contact us for clarification at wojodiamal@idraac.org.