Voices of Hope and Experience Unite in Suicide Prevention Song
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A group with lived experiences of suicidality created a short film, narrated by a poem, to help others and prevent suicide. Call or text 988 for help.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a crisis, please reach out for help by calling or texting 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Jo Lambert recalls the fear she felt when she first learned a loved one was contemplating suicide.
"I was so panicked by the grief...that it prevented me from giving my loved one what I needed [to]," says Lambert, 54, who resides in London. That was in 2017.
Over time, Lambert explains, she learned to set aside her own emotions and fully focus on the individual in need. "As soon as I detached myself from the outcome, I made this about the person in the crisis – fully. That was when I got the hang of it."
From Poem to Film
As Lambert grew more experienced in supporting someone struggling with suicidal thoughts, she vowed to share her insights with others. She wanted to empower people so they wouldn't feel helpless while watching a loved one suffer.
In 2023, that opportunity arose when she collaborated with five other individuals, all of whom had personal experience with suicidality. One was grieving the loss of someone to suicide, while the others had battled suicidal thoughts themselves. Drawing upon their collective experiences, they created a short film about suicide prevention, commissioned by a U.K.-based suicide prevention program.
The film is narrated by a poem Lambert wrote, titled "Hold the Hope," which also became the movie's title. The poem offers a message of support:
