THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SUICIDOLOGY ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 2023 PAUL G. QUINNETT LIVED EXPERIENCE WRITING COMPETITION

November 27, 2023 | Washington, DC – The American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the world’s largest and nation’s oldest membership-based suicide prevention organization, announced the top three submissions from the 2023 Paul G. Quinnett Lived Experience Writing Competition as voted on by the panel of volunteer judges. One hundred and twenty-five stories were submitted from around the world, more than doubling the amount from last year’s submissions.

“Untitled” by Phoenix Wang from Floral Park, New York received the highest score among the judges and received the $1,500 top prize. “Blindsided” by Elizabeth Beasley from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina was the first runner-up receiving a $1,000 prize and “Battling the Echoes of Darkness: From Suicidal Thoughts to Graduate Aspirations” by Emily Bernier from Calgary, Alberta, Canada was the 3^rd Place finisher and received a $500 cash prize.

“The purpose of the annual competition is to promote stories of survival, hope, and recovery from suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts,” said AAS President & Chief Executive Officer Leeann Sherman, MPS, CAE. “Thank you to all those who shared their stories, as well as the panel of volunteer judges for their time and thoughtful feedback. Congratulations to our top three submissions.”

The Paul G. Quinnett Lived Experience Writing Competition was launched in 2014 as a partnership between the American Association of Suicidology and Dr. Paul Quinnett, PhD, the Executive Chairman of the QPR Institute. The purpose of the annual competition is to promote stories of survival, hope, and recovery from suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt(s). 

Each submission was reviewed by two judges on a double-blind basis. Each submission was scored on the following categories:

• Increases public awareness about understanding of the experiences of suicidal people
• Challenges the field to think about suicide survivorship in new ways
• Good writing – compelling, engaging, understandable to a wide range of audiences

About American Association of Suicidology

The American Association of Suicidology is the world’s largest and nation’s oldest membership-based suicide prevention organization. Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center professionals, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of laypersons who have an interest in suicide prevention. Learn more about AAS and its programs at www.suicidology.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Chris Cosentino

ccosentino@suicidology.org
American Association of Suicidology