Elspeth Rushbrook's Blog - Posts Tagged "safeguarding"
Suicide in literature campaign - Samaritans promote their factsheet to authors
I was perturbed to read this, for the arts are being dictated to and we are being told how this emotive and tragic subject should be dealt with.
The point of creativity is that it's free for the creator to explore and it allows those who engage - in this case, readers - to do so outside of public information parameters. Literature is not about telling readers what to do, nor is it a public infomercial - that kind of writing is not well received.
The Samaritans is a great idea, but they have become synonymous with suicide - not all that they deal with - and thus have unfairly become the voice of suicide prevention.
I take great issue with the implication that literature has caused suicides, and thus needs to be curtailed. I found the use of the Society of Authors and the Authors' Licensing Collection Service to promote this deeply disturbing. I also query the fact sheet as being such.
Statistics alone are not evidence - there are many questions about how they are collected. The Samaritans are not supposed to collect them as their service is anonymous. It is one of the few places where it is safe to discuss such a subject without fear of forced psychiatric treatment and incarceration.
Although it's allegedly only advice, its headline and its handling lends itself to sounding pre- and proscriptive.
Being a deeply spiritual woman who thinks outside of the box, as well as a reader and writer with wide life experience, I am aware of other perspectives on suicide. I am also aware of the changes in society and law regarding this act and its former demonisation. It is something I have researched. I take issue with the phrase 'suicide prevention', for it's not really about helping people have a life worth living, but avoiding statistics and ultimately taking control out of our hands.
Dealing honestly with all life can throw at us is what good art should be about. It can be explored in fiction in such a way that it assists people come through suicidal feelings and cope with bereavements.
I am actually deeply concerned by the Samaritans' policy and campaigns, and know that they themselves have been inadvertently harmful to those needing support.
There is also the political side of this subject, which is why literature is well placed to discuss it and it is concerning indeed. It's eroding freedom of speech.
We need a critique of safeguarding, which is about protection of the professional, not the person seeking help.
I have a forthcoming novel which does just that.
The point of creativity is that it's free for the creator to explore and it allows those who engage - in this case, readers - to do so outside of public information parameters. Literature is not about telling readers what to do, nor is it a public infomercial - that kind of writing is not well received.
The Samaritans is a great idea, but they have become synonymous with suicide - not all that they deal with - and thus have unfairly become the voice of suicide prevention.
I take great issue with the implication that literature has caused suicides, and thus needs to be curtailed. I found the use of the Society of Authors and the Authors' Licensing Collection Service to promote this deeply disturbing. I also query the fact sheet as being such.
Statistics alone are not evidence - there are many questions about how they are collected. The Samaritans are not supposed to collect them as their service is anonymous. It is one of the few places where it is safe to discuss such a subject without fear of forced psychiatric treatment and incarceration.
Although it's allegedly only advice, its headline and its handling lends itself to sounding pre- and proscriptive.
Being a deeply spiritual woman who thinks outside of the box, as well as a reader and writer with wide life experience, I am aware of other perspectives on suicide. I am also aware of the changes in society and law regarding this act and its former demonisation. It is something I have researched. I take issue with the phrase 'suicide prevention', for it's not really about helping people have a life worth living, but avoiding statistics and ultimately taking control out of our hands.
Dealing honestly with all life can throw at us is what good art should be about. It can be explored in fiction in such a way that it assists people come through suicidal feelings and cope with bereavements.
I am actually deeply concerned by the Samaritans' policy and campaigns, and know that they themselves have been inadvertently harmful to those needing support.
There is also the political side of this subject, which is why literature is well placed to discuss it and it is concerning indeed. It's eroding freedom of speech.
We need a critique of safeguarding, which is about protection of the professional, not the person seeking help.
I have a forthcoming novel which does just that.
