A qualitative study has highlighted that people with lived experience should be considered vital partners in developing any suicide prevention initiative. Participants in the study were professional peer support specialist staff with lived experience employed by specialist mental health services, who took part in a semi-structured interview in a focus group setting. Participants evaluated an initial series of caring contacts text messages to determine optimal language and delivery, within a cultural context. Three main themes were identified: upholding a person’s autonomy; establishing connection as a bridge to safety; and words as healing rongoā (remedy). The last theme contained a cultural subtheme: Māori language providing entry to the Māori world.
