Lived Lives: A Pavee Perspective

Suicide is a significant public health concern, which impacts on Background: health outcomes. Few suicide research studies have been interdisciplinary. We combined a psychobiographical autopsy with a visual arts autopsy, in which families donated stories, images and objects associated with the lived life of a loved one lost to suicide. From this interdisciplinary research platform, a mediated exhibition was created ( ) with artist, scientist and families, Lived Lives co-curated by communities, facilitating dialogue, response and public action around suicide prevention. Indigenous ethnic minorities (IEMs) bear a significant increased risk for suicide. Irish Travellers are an IEM with social and cultural parallels with IEMs internationally, experiencing racism, discrimination, and poor health outcomes including elevated suicide rates (SMR 6.6). An adjusted exhibition, Methods: Lived Lives Lived Lives: A Pavee manifested in Pavee Point, the national Traveller and Roma Perspective Centre. The project was evaluated by the Travelling Community as to how it related to suicide in their community, how it has shaped their understanding of suicide and its impacts, and its relevance to other socio-cultural contexts, nationally and internationally. The project also obtained feedback from all relevant stakeholders. Evaluation was carried out by an international visual arts research advisor and an independent observer from the field of suicide research. Outputs included an arts-science mediated exhibition with reference Results: to elevated Irish Traveller suicide rates. Digital online learning materials about suicide and its aftermath among Irish Travellers were also produced. The project reached its target audience, with a high level of engagement from members of the Travelling Community. The methodology navigated the societal barriers of Discussion: Lived Lives stigma and silence to foster communication and engagement, working with cultural values, consistent with an adapted intervention. Feedback from this 1 1,2 1 3