Did anyone just watch ...

I think this program has the right idea in directly asking people who have attempted suicide about their thoughts, feelings and experiences. I liked it overall. However I agree with @Zoe7 that it was angled towards positive endings - and this is directed at the editing and the way the program is made, not the participants and what they had to say. I understand that there are a lot of thoughts and feelings that the participants could have (and maybe did have?) shared that weren't included because they could have been triggering to susceptible viewers. But it was a bit too "feel good", especially that background music. From the viewpoint of a person watching the program who has no experience with suicide I think it can be a positive and a negative. A positive because it shows people that people who have mental illness and who have contemplated and/or attempted suicide are regular people, not "crazy", and that it could happen to anyone around them. And then also negative because it doesn't show the continued and often-lengthy struggle involved to get back to a place of being able to cope on a daily basis after the suicide attempt. I feel it made it seem as though after the suicide attempt people have a "wake up" moment and realise they didn't want to die and suddenly everything is okay. And again, that's nothing against the participants, it's the way the program is structured and designed. It's obvious that a couple of them at least still face a very serious ongoing daily battle and I'd love to hear more about their stories but that's probably not something we're going to see in a TV program anytime soon.

@Odette @utopia

How refreshing would it be to actually show the reality of the struggles with this issue in it's entirety and not having to 'edit' with a slant towards the positve!

I found the program very frustrating to watch from this viewpoint. The minimal amount of 'air time' given to the ongoing struggle of a couple of participants was more 'matter of fact' than in-depth and prominent. I believe that this really glossed over how hard it is to deal with SI and the ongoing ramifications for both oneself and those around us after a suicide 'attempt'.

Each one of those participants are to be highly commended for the courage they showed in telling parts of their stories and answering questions so honestly - I certainly only have admiration for those people!

Where I find it difficult is that the show only portrayed the issue from the point of view of people who are some way down the road to 'healing' or accepting that there is a life worth living for. What about those people who are still stuck in the abyss and can't see any light to move towards - is this too negative or 'triggering' for tv - if so, it doesn't tell all sides and the reality for those who can't see ever getting to the stage that most of the people in this program are at - where does the 'real' reality start and the openness of how hard it really is at confronting these issues truly begin?

This program did frustrate me from this persepctive - and all I could feel was 'what if I don't want to live, what if I am nowhere near the place that these people are at, what if I truly see my suicide attempts to be absolute failures, what is the future, do I even want to have a future...' - why is this 'story' not told!?

Thanks @utopia - all OK

Hello everyone.

I watched the TV show last night and it gave me the push I needed to reach out. I messaged the young lady from Brisbane (Steph) and she was very kind and supportive. Steph put forward this forum. I was shocked to here how many people take their lives. I have been dealing with depressing and anxiety for some time now and the TV show helped show me other people are dealing with issues aswell (its not just me alone). I would of never joined this forum if it wasnt for the show or some small but kind words from a stranger.

Thank you both for the kind welcome. I will look at the Introduce yourself thread.

Hello

the term suicide in society amongst the well people is still quite frightening

stigma still plays a large role

i imagine the programme was approved for further reducing stigma around this area in light of released statistics

for those of us who have been directly affected by suicide having a positive ending would seem shallow, misleading

however, who would agree to have the spotlight shining on them during the darkest moments of their life? Who would actually be able to?

Perhaps the audience it intended to reach was the well people who would only be able to watch a positive outcome

there is a message there that there can be hope, there is a chance if we keep on trying, believing that we matter

if the programme resonates with family members or friends and gives them an element of hope for their loved ones then it is worthwhile

if it saves just one life the message has been heard