Lived Experience Advisory Group

Lidia Di Lembo, Northern Territory

After losing my daughter to suicide in August 2017, I found I had a strong urge to participate in a forum to share my lived experience with others who are on a similar journey; and contribute to improving programs and services that involve supporting individuals, families and community after a suicide loss.

What would you like to see the group achieve?           

I would the group to be a trustworthy source of helping destigmatize suicide and creating more awareness mental illness, and promote health practitioners and first responders to be more compassionate when dealing with those impacted by suicide loss. The group would do this drawing on their personal experience of what it is like to live after the loss of a loved one to suicide, what might help to heal after such a catastrophic event and how to look after oneself and continue to have hope in life.

 What have you gained by taking part?

I have acquired a ‘new family’ with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, from all over Australia who keep in daily contact by sharing thoughts, ideas, feelings and hope. It has helped me heal and know that there are many suicide survivors who continue to look for ‘meaning and purpose’ in life beyond suicide.

What would you like the public to know about suicide? “Suicide is everyone’s business”. It can affect anyone at any time. It is life changing and it is important to find simple ways to reach out and support the bereaved who unfortunately have a very long journey ahead. Connect, listen and be patient without trying to tell survivors to ‘move on’, as this doesn’t happen. If anything, they learn to live with their loss, try hard to maintain their own health and wellbeing, the best way as humanely possible after such a tragic event.

“Instil hope, promote healing and engender compassion,” SabrinasReach4Life.

Find out more about the Lived Experience Advisory Group
Lidia Di Lembo, Northern Territory
QIP Accredited Logo

StandBy is QIP Accredited as an organisation. Implemented by Suicide Prevention Australia and assessed by independent, not-for-profit accreditation provider, Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP), the Suicide Prevention Accreditation Program supports organisations to deliver safe, high-quality and effective suicide prevention and postvention programs.

Inclusivity flags

StandBy respectfully acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as Australia’s First People and Traditional Custodians. We value their cultures, identities, continuing connection to country, waters, kin and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and emerging. We are committed to making a positive contribution to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, by providing services that are welcoming, safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive.

StandBy acknowledges and pays respect to elders, advocates, activists, and allies of our LGBTIQA+SB communities. We affirm the support provided and acknowledge the cost involved in standing up for the rights of LGBTIQA+SB people.

StandBy recognises and honours the continued contribution of those with a lived experience of suicide bereavement. The courage, insight and wisdom of these unique experiences, strengthens the work that we do. We also acknowledge and remember the lives that have ended due to suicide and we encourage ongoing support and care for yourself and each other.

StandBy – An initiative of Youturn jointly funded by the Australian Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Victorian Governments.

For immediate crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or QLife on 1800 184 527 or 13yarn.org.au on 13 92 76. In case of an emergency, call 000.

StandBy Head Office
1B Maud Street,
Nambour
QLD 4560

Connect on social:

DONATE1300 727 247
Skip to content