Why use a community development approach in suicide prevention?
When it comes to suicide prevention, the way we work together matters. Community Development offers a powerful shift, from “I” to “we” — from linear to circular ways of working and connecting. It opens the door for many people in many places to take the lead in change. It’s about growing communities and healing together.
Community Development is intentional. It includes everyone in shaping solutions, drawing on what will truly work for that community. It’s not a new idea, but in today’s world, it can feel revolutionary.
We’ve always built together
Humans have always gathered together to build, connect, and create change. That’s part of our nature. But over time, we’ve drifted.
Our focus has shifted away from mutual effort and relationship building, towards more transactional, market-like exchanges. These patterns have found their way into human services and social systems, distancing us further from the connections that sustain civil society and inspire citizen-led change.
Why it matters in suicide prevention
There’s no area where connection, shared effort, and belonging are more vital than suicide prevention. A community development approach:
Shifts the focus from the individual to the whole
Reduces stigma and discrimination
Opens up new ways to solve problems together
Lives are richer when people feel part of something bigger than themselves, when they have opportunities to lead, contribute, and belong.
Who is “Community”?
A community can be defined in many ways: by geography, neighbourhood, or place; by a shared identity or life experience; by culture, faith, or age group. It could be a group of young people, people from the same cultural background, or those with shared interests or challenges.
Where and what?
Community development in suicide prevention can happen anywhere, from remote towns to busy city suburbs, from workplaces to sporting clubs, from cultural centres to online groups. The “what” depends on the people involved: it might be creating spaces for conversation, developing peer and friendship networks, changing the way a team or school works together, or finding ways to learn more about each other.
At its best, community development is about working with — not for — people. It’s about moving forward together in ways that make sense for the people who live there, building communities that are connected, strong and purposeful, and ready to support one another.
