Can co-design transform suicide prevention and help families rebuild?

Imagine developing a tool or research on suicide prevention by collaborating directly with those who have experienced these ordeals. That’s exactly what a team did by involving six mothers who had accompanied their teenager in suicidal crisis to the emergency room. Their goal was clear: to create tailored support while giving these parents a space where their experience truly matters.

Co-design is based on a simple yet powerful idea: working with the people concerned rather than for them. Here, the researchers adopted an approach centered on listening, kindness, and respect. They began by sharing their own stories, thereby creating an atmosphere of trust. Each mother was able to express what she had been through, without judgment or haste. These exchanges made it possible to understand the real needs of families and to avoid externally imposed solutions.

For this collaboration to work, several elements were essential. First, recognizing the value of each experience. The mothers were encouraged to speak freely, without fear of being misunderstood. Their ideas influenced every step, from creating an interview guide to designing support tools for parents. Some even participated in interviews with other families, gaining new skills and strengthening their confidence.

Another key point was constant support. A dedicated team was on hand to listen, advise, and support the participants before, during, and after meetings. This attention helped limit the risk of retraumatization and transformed a painful experience into an opportunity for growth. The mothers emphasized how much feeling heard and respected had helped them make sense of their journey.

Transparency and recognition also played a major role. Participants were regularly informed about the project’s progress and were compensated for their time. This compensation symbolized the value of their contribution and allowed them to fully engage without financial pressure.

Finally, celebrating progress and accepting difficult moments strengthened the group. Even small successes were shared, as were the challenges. This approach fostered a sense of belonging and showed that their commitment had a tangible impact.

This project reveals something deeper: participating in co-design can have a therapeutic effect. By transforming their experiences into useful actions for others, these mothers found a way to overcome their isolation and regain a sense of control over their story. Their involvement not only improved the research but also their own resilience and that of their families.

This experience proves that it is possible to carry out ambitious projects by placing people at the center. It also shows that simple actions, such as taking the time to listen or acknowledging everyone’s efforts, change everything. Co-design is not just about creating tools; it provides a space where people can rebuild together.

Information Sources

Original Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-026-00863-y

Title: Co-designing suicide prevention research with mothers of suicidal adolescents – applying McKercher’s Model of Care

Journal: Research Involvement and Engagement

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Demee Rheinberger; Katherine Boydell; Susanne Oliver Armstrong; Julia Lessing; Sally Ann Pollard; Inger Jacob; Lauren McGillivray; Emma Elder; Fiona Shand