When attempting to understand the concept of Lived Experience, there are two primary categories: direct and indirect experiences. Experiential understanding varies by type and across different issues like mental health (with specific conditions under that), substance use (or recovery), suicide prevention, violence (with specific interpersonal violence types under that), being unhoused, and so on and so on.

It’s important to start by saying that “experts” constantly debate the definition of “lived experience” in a mental health context, with differing perspectives on who should be included in efforts geared at understanding these experiences and providing care or support and practical skills to address the needs of those who identify as having a form of lived experienc.

One issue would be suicide-centered lived experiences. I use “suicide-centered” to denote the specific experiential type we are referencing or focusing on because the phrase “lived experience” has become so commonly used that it is challenging for outsiders to quickly know which particular experience or perspective a person might be drawing from or referencing. We are made of thousands upon thousands of experiences, and they don’t always align with one another or fit into the spaces where we may find ourselves.

Suicide-centered lived experience includes individuals who have experienced or are currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, attempted suicide, or lost a loved one to suicide, as well as those who have provided substantial support to these groups. 

If you looked at suicide as a storm, for example, who’s at the eye of the storm? Who just went through the first outer layer and can see what damage this storm is capable of now? Who hasn’t been touched yet but knows and cares about the person in the center? Who may never be touched or understand, no matter how hard we try to warn them about the potential damage? These concentric circles ripple out, and with these ripples, we encounter varying types of understanding, possible information, and lessons that may benefit others. (Julie Cerel’s work is a great place to learn more about this concept.) 

Those directly impacted are those who have the most intimate experience or understanding. Referring back to suicide, this would be the individuals who have made suicide attempts or those who have experienced thoughts of suicide. Next would be those who have lost someone to suicide. Each of these individuals would have experienced specific effects from suicide. Who could say one is “more” or “less” important than another? Many argue about this very thing, but the truth is that each holds a unique insight and understanding, each for specific reasons that cannot be compared. 

The second major experiential category is Indirect. Indirect experience means those in an outer ring who have a tie or connection to someone with direct experience. This would include those impacted, like family and friends, who’ve offered support. It would also include those who may have had less definable relationships to a person with direct experience. This could include professional providers, professionals who worked with these individuals, service providers who offered some form of care, and those who may have provided postvention (after) services to a person. 

While these indirect experiences may not have the same level of intimate knowledge, they are often supporters and caregivers. Their roles are critical to providing stability and demonstrating the level of help it can sometimes take for those with direct experience. We know strong support networks increase our wellbeing, and these individuals have the knowledge and practical abilities to do that. 

This conversation is critical because, as the field of lived experience work becomes a goliath of its own, we need to have clarity. This means we will need clear definitions, categories, practices, approaches, and more. The work of developing lived experience efforts is still relatively young compared to some of the fields that are established today. So there is a great deal of effort that needs to take place to build practices that support the individuals who have these experiences while creating standards that support this work in professional capacities. 

I hope to share more and explain the work I am doing to build out these concepts and bring the voices of experiences into the efforts that are charged with serving us.