Introduction

In therapy, conversations about suicide often center on prevention and pathology, typically focusing on risk assessment, crisis intervention, and safety plans, approaches rooted in "normative success/failure binaries" that privilege survival at all costs (Halberstam, 2011). While these strategies are essential in most cases, they often leave little room for nuanced discussions about autonomy, agency, and the lived experiences of those who struggle deeply with continuing to live under systemic oppression. This narrow focus can sometimes perpetuate a medicalized view of suicidality, where the individual’s distress is treated primarily as a symptom of mental illness that must be “fixed” or mitigated, rather than understood as part of a broader socio-political context. For trans* and disabled individuals, this approach can feel particularly alienating, as it often fails to acknowledge the systemic oppressions that shape their experiences of suicidality.

Alexandre Baril’s Undoing Suicidism: A Trans Queer Crip Approach to Rethinking (Assisted) Suicide offers a uniquely new perspective, challenging these dominant frameworks of suicide prevention by critically examining how societal structures—especially ableism, transphobia, and homophobia—play a significant role in the suicidality of marginalized communities. Baril (2023) urges us to reconsider the ways we engage with suicidality, emphasizing that current approaches often pathologize the individual’s distress without addressing the underlying social conditions that contribute to it. He argues that this “suicidist” framework—wherein society seeks to save individuals at all costs—ultimately silences those who experience suicidality, stripping them of agency over their own lives.

Baril’s radical proposal invites us to transform our approach to suicide by honouring the voices of suicidal individuals rather than silencing them. This involves recognizing their autonomy and validating their experiences, even when those experiences are at odds with the dominant societal belief that life must be preserved at all costs. Baril’s queercrip model advocates for a more compassionate, inclusive perspective—one that acknowledges the structural violence faced by trans*, queer, and disabled people, and how this violence may inform their desire for death. In Baril’s framework, affirming suicidality does not mean encouraging death; rather, it means creating space for individuals to discuss their feelings and desires openly, without fear of coercion or invalidation.

For therapists working with Two-Spirit, trans*, and queer clients, Baril’s Undoing Suicidism provides critical insights into how suicidality is shaped not only by individual mental health struggles but also by broader social and structural oppressions (Williams & Nzira, 2009). These oppressions—rooted in ableism, transphobia, and other forms of systemic marginalization—can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness and isolation, particularly when individuals feel that their experiences are not understood or validated. Therapists, therefore, have a responsibility to consider these intersecting factors when working with clients who experience suicidal ideation. This means moving beyond a purely preventative approach to one that centres the client’s lived experiences, including the ways in which they navigate systemic oppression.

Additionally, integrating the concept of critical resilience into this discussion allows therapists to acknowledge the strength and agency that marginalized individuals demonstrate in the face of oppression. As Melissa Morgan (2023) notes, resilience is not about overcoming adversity—it is about recognizing and utilizing the strengths that individuals develop in response to structural and social injustice. By adopting a resilience-based framework alongside Baril’s suicide-affirmative approach, therapists can create a space where clients are empowered to explore their feelings of suicidality in a way that honours their autonomy while also recognizing the resilience they bring to these conversations.

This blog post explores the key concepts from Baril’s work and examines their practical application in therapeutic settings. My focus will be on how therapists can create more inclusive and affirming spaces for Two-Spirit, trans*, queer, and disabled clients who experience suicidal ideation. By adopting an anti-oppressive framework (Williams & Nzira, 2009) and recognizing the critical resilience (Morgan, 2023) of marginalized individuals, we can work towards a therapeutic model that respects the autonomy, dignity, and lived experiences of all clients.

Beyond Pathology: Understanding Suicidality in Marginalized Communities

Alexandre Baril’s Undoing Suicidism centres around the concept of “suicidism,” a term he uses to describe the societal structures that pathologize and silence suicidal individuals. Baril (2023) defines suicidism as the pervasive belief that life must always be preserved, regardless of the individual’s suffering, and that any desire for death is inherently irrational or pathological. This belief system is deeply embedded in medical, legal, and social institutions, which often prioritize suicide prevention at the cost of ignoring or invalidating the experiences of those who are suicidal. Through this lens, suicidism is not merely about individual attitudes toward suicide but about the systemic oppression that renders suicidal people voiceless and without agency.

Baril argues that current approaches to suicide prevention are heavily influenced by ableism, sanism, and transphobia. Ableism assumes that disabled lives are less valuable and pathologizes any desire to end suffering, while sanism delegitimizes the perspectives of those with mental health challenges, treating their distress as something that needs to be cured or suppressed. Transphobia further compounds this, especially for trans* and queer individuals who are already navigating a world that marginalizes their identities and experiences. In this context, suicidality is often seen as an individual failing, rather than a valid response to systemic oppression. Baril (2023) contends that this framework strips suicidal individuals of their agency by treating them as problems to be solved rather than people to be understood and supported.

This critique aligns with Williams and Nzira’s (2009) exploration of how health and social care systems can perpetuate oppression if they fail to adopt an anti-oppressive framework. Williams and Nzira emphasize that without such a framework, care systems risk reinforcing the very power imbalances that contribute to individuals’ distress. For instance, in a suicidist framework, mental health interventions often focus on preventing suicide at all costs, prioritizing the clinician’s duty to “protect” the client over the client’s right to express their feelings or make autonomous decisions about their own life. Such interventions can feel coercive, particularly for marginalized individuals, whose distress may stem from societal oppression rather than purely personal or psychological factors. By failing to account for these larger structural forces, practitioners risk perpetuating the very harms they seek to alleviate.

Baril (2023) pushes this argument further by proposing a “queercrip model” of assisted suicide, which advocates for the recognition of suicidality as a valid form of suffering that deserves support, rather than automatic prevention. This model reframes suicide not as an act to be universally stopped but as a possible outcome that should be approached with compassion and respect for the individual’s autonomy. In Baril’s view, denying suicidal individuals the right to make decisions about their own lives—such as the right to explore assisted suicide—can be a form of structural violence. It perpetuates ableist and transphobic ideologies that invalidate the lived experiences of marginalized people.

Baril’s queercrip model draws heavily on disability justice principles, which have long emphasized the importance of self-determination and agency in resisting paternalistic health care interventions. Charlton’s (1998) Nothing About Us Without Us underscores this point, as the disability rights movement has consistently fought for the right of disabled individuals to control their own narratives and make decisions about their own minds, bodies, and lives. Charlton argues that when others—whether they are medical professionals, policymakers, or well-meaning allies—make decisions for disabled people, they rob them of their autonomy and reinforce a system of dependency and disempowerment. This mirrors Baril’s argument that the suicidist framework treats suicidal individuals as objects of intervention rather than as people with the right to make autonomous choices about their lives and deaths.

These themes highlight the urgent need for a paradigm shift in how we conceptualize care for suicidal individuals, particularly those from marginalized groups. Rather than focusing solely on prevention, therapists and mental health practitioners are called to adopt a more nuanced, affirming approach that centres the experiences and autonomy of their clients. This involves moving away from a pathologizing framework that views suicidality as a problem to be solved, and instead recognizing the social, political, and structural factors that contribute to an individual’s distress. In doing so, therapists can create spaces where suicidal individuals feel heard, validated, and empowered to make decisions about their own lives—whether that involves choosing to live or exploring other options, such as assisted suicide.

Moreover, Baril’s queercrip model offers a radical rethinking of the relationship between suffering and autonomy, advocating for a more compassionate, justice-oriented approach to suicide. This model asks us to confront the uncomfortable reality that, for some individuals, life in an ableist, sanist, and transphobic society may feel unbearable. Rather than responding with coercive interventions, therapists and mental health practitioners are encouraged to engage with their clients’ suffering in a way that respects their dignity, agency, and right to self-determination.

This shift requires a deep commitment to anti-oppressive practice, as outlined by Williams and Nzira (2009), and a willingness to listen to and validate the voices of suicidal individuals without imposing societal norms or values on them. It also calls for a broader understanding of suicidality that acknowledges the role of structural oppression in shaping an individual’s desire for death. By dismantling these oppressive systems, practitioners can foster environments that respect the autonomy and agency of marginalized individuals, allowing them to make empowered choices about their own lives.

Core Insights: Reimagining Suicide and Autonomy in Marginalized Communities

Baril’s Undoing Suicidism presents an urgent call to challenge the mainstream narratives surrounding suicidality, especially for those whose voices are most often silenced by systemic oppression. Below, we explore three key concepts that form the foundation of Baril’s critique and offer a pathway to rethinking suicide prevention, autonomy, and resilience for marginalized groups. These insights not only align with anti-oppressive principles but also challenge us to reflect on how we, as therapists and mental health practitioners, can reshape our approach to suicidality to be more inclusive and affirming.

1. Suicidism as Structural Oppression

Baril introduces the concept of ‘suicidism’ as a form of structural violence that delegitimizes the voices of suicidal individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities. This resonates with Halberstam’s (2011) critique of societal pressures that enforce normative notions of success, which often silence alternative expressions of being and survival. In this framework, suicidality is often reduced to a pathology that must be “cured,” ignoring the social, political, and cultural factors that contribute to a person’s desire for death. This approach not only fails to recognize the agency of suicidal individuals but also reinforces oppressive structures that silence them.

Baril’s critique resonates with James Charlton’s (1998) exploration of paternalism in health care, which argues that the medical system frequently strips disabled individuals of their autonomy by assuming that professionals “know best.” This paternalistic mindset is prevalent in suicidist frameworks, where the prevention of death is prioritized over the individual’s right to self-determination. Williams and Nzira (2009) further expand on this by calling for an anti-oppressive framework in health and social care, emphasizing the need to dismantle systems that perpetuate inequality and disempowerment.

By recognizing suicidism as a form of structural oppression, therapists can begin to reframe their approach to suicidality, ensuring that they are not complicit in silencing the voices of those they aim to support. This shift demands a deeper understanding of how systemic factors—such as ableism, transphobia, and sanism—intersect with individual experiences of suicidality.

2. The Queer-Crip Model of (Assisted) Suicide

Baril’s “queercrip model” of assisted suicide offers a radical departure from the conventional medicalized approaches to suicide prevention. In this model, Baril advocates for a more inclusive understanding of suffering and the right to self-determination, particularly for disabled, trans*, and queer individuals. He argues that individuals who experience suicidality should be supported in making their own decisions about their lives, including the possibility of assisted suicide, if they so choose.

This model challenges the mainstream narrative that assumes all suicidality is irrational and must be prevented at all costs. Instead, Baril urges practitioners to engage with their clients’ suffering in a way that is compassionate, respectful, and non-coercive. By advocating for assisted suicide within this framework, Baril acknowledges that for some individuals, the desire to die may be a rational response to an ableist, transphobic, or otherwise oppressive society.

Charlton’s (1998) assertion that marginalized communities should control their own narratives parallels Baril’s argument. Both call for a shift away from paternalistic interventions and toward practices that centre the agency and autonomy of individuals, especially those whose voices have historically been silenced. In adopting a queercrip model, therapists can better honour the self-determination of their clients and create space for open, non-judgmental discussions about suffering, death, and autonomy.

3. Critical Resilience: Thriving Amidst Oppression

Melissa Morgan’s (2023) concept of critical resilience offers a useful framework for understanding how marginalized individuals, including those who are suicidal, navigate and thrive in oppressive systems. Morgan emphasizes that resilience is not about overcoming adversity; it is about recognizing and utilizing the strengths that individuals develop in response to systemic injustices. This framework aligns with Baril’s suicide-affirmative approach by validating the resilience and agency of suicidal individuals, rather than viewing them as merely victims of their circumstances or their thoughts.

Critical resilience shifts the focus from survival to thriving, even in the face of ongoing oppression. For example, trans and queer individuals who face daily discrimination may develop unique strengths and coping mechanisms that allow them to resist the structural forces that oppress them. Therapists, therefore, must recognize these strengths and support their clients in cultivating resilience, even when their circumstances may seem overwhelmingly difficult.

Baril’s approach complements this by acknowledging that suicidal individuals often possess a deep awareness of their suffering and the societal factors contributing to it. Rather than pathologizing this awareness, therapists can work to foster resilience by affirming their clients’ experiences and supporting their autonomy. In doing so, practitioners can help clients not only survive but thrive within oppressive systems, offering a more holistic approach to mental health care.

Integrating Autonomy and Resilience: A Transformative Approach to Suicide Prevention

For therapists working with trans* and queer clients, Baril’s framework offers an opportunity to rethink traditional suicide prevention strategies by integrating anti-oppressive practices. Historically, suicide prevention has focused primarily on risk management and crisis intervention, often failing to address the systemic oppressions that contribute to suicidality. As Baril (2023) argues, suicidism—our societal impulse to pathologize and prevent suicidality—strips individuals of their agency and overlooks the broader social and political forces shaping their distress.

To address this, Williams and Nzira’s (2009) anti-oppressive framework provides a foundation for shifting our approach to mental health care. By recognizing that the experiences of marginalized clients are often shaped by systemic discrimination—including transphobia, homophobia, and ableism—therapists can create spaces where clients feel empowered to discuss their suicidality without fear of judgment or coercion. This is especially important for trans* and queer individuals, whose suicidal thoughts may be linked to the structural violence they face in daily life. In adopting an anti-oppressive approach, we honour their autonomy, allowing them to speak about their suffering in their own terms.

Baril’s framework (2023) challenges us to approach suicidality not as a problem to be “fixed,” but as a deeply felt experience that should be explored with compassion and respect for autonomy. The role of the therapist is to honour the client’s lived experiences, including their distress, without steering them toward any specific outcome. While Baril introduces the idea of assisted suicide as one potential discussion point, the central goal in therapy is to foster the client’s autonomy and agency, allowing them to make empowered decisions about their lives. This approach does not advocate for assisted suicide but rather emphasizes creating a space where all options, including living and finding resilience, can be explored without coercion.

In this reimagined framework, therapists move beyond simply preventing death. Instead, we strive to create a supportive environment where clients feel safe enough to explore their feelings and discuss their options, including assisted suicide if that aligns with their values. Baril (2023) challenges us to adopt a more inclusive, non-coercive model of care, where the goal is not to “fix” suicidality but to affirm clients’ lived experiences and empower them to make decisions about their own lives. As Charlton (1998) asserts, control over one’s own life—including decisions about death—is central to autonomy, particularly for marginalized individuals who have historically been denied that right.

Moreover, incorporating Morgan’s (2023) concept of critical resilience can help therapists shift the focus from pathology to strength. Critical resilience emphasizes how marginalized individuals develop unique strengths in the face of systemic oppression. Rather than viewing suicidality solely through a lens of despair, this perspective encourages therapists to recognize the resilience that clients have built through their experiences of surviving—and, in some cases, thriving—despite structural barriers. Morgan (2023) reminds us that resilience is not merely about survival; it is about finding ways to thrive amidst adversity.

For example, trans and queer clients often cultivate powerful coping mechanisms as they navigate a world that consistently marginalizes them. As therapists, our role is to support clients in recognizing these strengths and helping them channel them toward building lives that are more aligned with their values, identities, and goals. This might involve connecting them with affirming communities, supporting their activism, or exploring creative outlets as avenues for healing and resistance. By acknowledging the resilience embedded in their experiences, we can help them move from mere survival to thriving.

Incorporating these frameworks into practice shifts the role of the therapist from that of a saviour to that of a collaborator—someone who walks alongside the client as they navigate complex, sometimes painful, decisions about their life and death. Baril’s work (2023) challenges us to see suicidality not as a problem to be solved but as a reflection of lived suffering, shaped by oppressive systems. By integrating anti-oppressive practices (Williams & Nzira, 2009) and fostering critical resilience (Morgan, 2023), we offer our clients a therapeutic space where their autonomy and lived experiences are truly respected.

Empowering You: Insights for Therapists, Clients, and Advocates

Baril’s framework in Undoing Suicidism offers profound insights not only for therapists but also for clients, allies, and advocates seeking a more compassionate and affirming approach to suicidality. Whether you are a mental health professional, someone experiencing suicidality, or an advocate supporting someone you care about, the integration of anti-oppressive practices and critical resilience brings a deeper understanding of the systemic forces at play and provides a space for healing, agency, and empowerment.

For Therapists

As therapists, we are often tasked with supporting clients through some of the most difficult moments in their lives, but we must also be willing to embrace the potential in what Halberstam (2011) calls the ‘art of failure,’ recognizing that traditional success paradigms may not apply to our marginalized clients’ experiences. Baril’s work, alongside insights from Anti-Oppressive Practice (Williams & Nzira, 2009) and Critical Resilience (Morgan, 2023), challenges us to rethink the way we approach suicidality. Rather than focusing solely on crisis management and prevention, this approach encourages us to respect the agency of our clients and to recognize the broader social and political forces that may be contributing to their distress.

By adopting an anti-oppressive framework, you can create a therapeutic space where clients feel safe to speak openly about their experiences of suicidality. As Williams and Nzira (2009) remind us, healthcare systems can unintentionally perpetuate oppression when they fail to recognize the intersections of discrimination and identity. By fostering an environment where clients feel empowered to share their stories without fear of being pathologized, you shift the focus from “saving” them to supporting their autonomy and agency.

Incorporating Morgan’s (2023) framework of critical resilience helps further by recognizing that many clients are not just victims of their circumstances but are actively navigating and resisting the forces that oppress them. By honouring their resilience, you can help clients explore their strengths and capacities, which often emerge in response to adversity. This not only validates their experiences but also offers them tools for thriving within—and sometimes despite—the challenges they face.

For Clients and Potential Clients

If you are experiencing suicidality, it can sometimes feel like your feelings are misunderstood or, worse, dismissed. Baril’s approach offers a space where your experiences are not only valid but also deeply heard. Rather than being met with judgment or coercive interventions, this framework emphasizes your right to express your feelings without the fear of being pathologized. Therapy in this context becomes a place where your autonomy and agency are respected.

Baril (2023) reminds us that suicidality is often not about irrationality but about responding to deeply felt suffering—suffering that is often shaped by societal oppression, such as transphobia, ableism, or homophobia. In therapy, your feelings can be explored in a non-coercive, supportive space, allowing you to speak about your pain openly. This approach encourages a more nuanced understanding of your experiences, acknowledging the external pressures and systemic forces that may contribute to your distress.

Moreover, by focusing on critical resilience (Morgan, 2023), therapy can help you recognize the strengths you’ve developed in navigating a world that may feel hostile or invalidating. This isn’t about “fixing” you; it’s about helping you reclaim your voice, your autonomy, and your sense of power in making decisions about your life.

For Allies and Advocates

If you are supporting someone experiencing suicidality, Baril’s framework offers a compassionate and non-paternalistic approach to understanding their experience. Instead of immediately responding with alarm or seeking to “fix” the problem, this approach emphasizes the importance of listening deeply and without judgment. As Charlton (1998) notes in Nothing About Us Without Us, marginalized individuals often lose their agency when others speak for them or make decisions on their behalf. By listening, you give the person space to articulate their own narrative.

Baril’s framework (2023) encourages you to engage with the structural forces that may be contributing to your loved one’s distress. Suicidality is rarely just about the individual—it is often shaped by the intersecting pressures of oppression, whether that’s transphobia, homophobia, ableism, or other forms of discrimination. Recognizing these factors helps you approach your loved one’s feelings with empathy and respect, rather than seeing their suicidality as something that needs to be immediately pathologized or silenced.

By adopting this approach, you create a supportive environment where your loved one feels safe to explore their feelings without fear of judgment. This not only empowers them but also deepens your understanding of the social, political, and cultural pressures that they are navigating.

Practical Tools for Therapists: Implementing Anti-Oppressive Practices

For therapists working with trans, queer, and disabled clients, the challenge lies not only in offering compassionate care but also in integrating anti-oppressive frameworks that recognize the societal forces shaping clients’ experiences of suicidality. By adopting an anti-oppressive approach, therapists can create a therapeutic space that is affirming, non-coercive, and grounded in the lived realities of marginalized individuals. Here are some enhanced practical tools and strategies to help you incorporate these frameworks into your practice.

1. Creating a Safer Therapeutic Space

Ensuring that clients feel safe and validated in therapy is essential. This involves creating an environment where clients can openly express their feelings, including suicidality, without fear of judgment or coercion. For trans and queer clients, it’s important to be mindful of gendered language, ask about and use correct pronouns, and ensure that your intake forms, physical space (if applicable), and virtual spaces are inclusive.

•Action Step: Begin sessions by explicitly inviting clients to share what they need to feel safe, and address any barriers they may face in accessing care. For example, start with, “How can I make this space feel more affirming or accessible for you today?” This can include asking about their pronouns, the language they prefer, or anything that would make their session feel more comfortable.

2. Asking Questions that Foster Autonomy

Empowering clients involves acknowledging that they are the experts of their own experiences. By asking questions that centre autonomy, you give clients the space to reflect on their needs and desires. When working with clients experiencing suicidality, focus on open-ended questions that help them explore their feelings without steering them toward a particular outcome.

•Action Step: Use questions such as “What do you feel is important for me to understand about your experience right now?” or “What would it mean for you to feel in control of your decisions?” These questions give clients space to articulate their feelings of suicidality while maintaining their autonomy. Instead of trying to ‘fix’ their distress, you are empowering them to reflect on their needs and desires.

•Example: If a client mentions feeling overwhelmed by external pressures related to their gender identity, ask, “How have these societal expectations impacted your feelings? What would support look like for you in this moment?”

3. Addressing Systemic Oppression in Therapy

Recognizing the impact of systemic oppression is a core element of anti-oppressive practice. Therapists can help clients contextualize their experiences of suicidality within the broader social, political, and cultural structures that may contribute to their distress, such as transphobia, ableism, and racism. By addressing these systemic factors, you validate the external pressures clients face and help them reframe their distress as a response to societal conditions, not as a personal failure.

•Action Step: Initiate conversations about systemic oppression by asking, “How do you think societal attitudes or systems have influenced how you’re feeling?” This opens the door for clients to connect their personal experiences with broader forces of marginalization, which can help reduce internalized blame or shame.

•Example: If a client feels overwhelmed by the pressures of ‘passing’ in a transphobic society, explore with them, “How have these expectations influenced how you see yourself? What would it feel like to release some of that pressure?”

4. Encouraging Critical Resilience

As Melissa Morgan (2023) suggests, resilience is not just about surviving adversity—it is about thriving amidst it. Recognizing and fostering critical resilience in clients involves helping them identify the strengths and coping mechanisms they’ve developed in response to systemic oppression. By focusing on resilience, therapists can help clients navigate their circumstances while affirming their agency and power.

•Action Step: In sessions, ask clients to reflect on their resilience: “What are some ways you’ve navigated difficult situations in the past?” or “How have you found strength, even when the world feels overwhelming?” These questions not only highlight resilience but also encourage clients to see themselves as active agents in their healing.

•Example: If a client shares how they’ve found solidarity in their queer community, affirm their resilience by asking, “How has being part of that community strengthened your ability to face difficult situations? How might that sense of belonging help you now?”

By incorporating these anti-oppressive tools into your practice, you can create a more inclusive, empowering space for clients who are navigating suicidality. This approach aligns with Baril’s (2023) framework, honouring the lived experiences of suicidal individuals while respecting their autonomy and resilience.

Let's Continue the Conversation

If the ideas in this blog resonate with you and your practice, we invite you to take the next step. Whether you’re a therapist seeking to incorporate anti-oppressive practices, or someone navigating suicidality and looking for support, we’re here to help. You may book with us for individual therapy or peer consultations. Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss how these approaches can enrich your practice or life, connect with us. Be sure to bookmark this blog for future insights, reflections, and updates.

Conclusion

Undoing Suicidism is more than just a critique of our current approaches to suicide prevention—it is a call to rethink the very foundations of how we engage with suicidality, especially in the context of marginalized communities. Baril’s framework pushes us to move beyond a model that seeks to “fix” or suppress suicidality and instead invites us to listen deeply, honour the lived experiences of suicidal individuals, and respect their autonomy in making decisions about their own lives.

By integrating anti-oppressive frameworks (Williams & Nzira, 2009), disability justice principles (Charlton, 1998), and the concept of critical resilience (Morgan, 2023), we can reshape our therapeutic practices in ways that are both compassionate and affirming. This approach offers a path forward for therapists, clients, and allies, one that recognizes the systemic forces that contribute to suicidality while fostering spaces where individuals can explore their experiences without fear of coercion or invalidation.

Ultimately, Baril’s work reminds us that healing is not always about survival; sometimes, it is about creating environments where people can reclaim their agency, make empowered choices, and find resilience in the face of oppression. By adopting these transformative approaches, we can create a more inclusive and just mental health landscape that truly supports the well-being of those who have been most marginalized.

Your safety is important to us: If you're in crisis, follow your safety plan, call 9-1-1, or visit your local emergency department. If you need to speak with someone, help is available by calling 9-8-8 or reaching out to TransLifeline.

References

Baril, A. (2023). Undoing suicidism: A trans queer crip approach to rethinking (assisted) suicide. Temple University Press.

Charlton, J. I. (1998). Nothing about us without us: Disability oppression and empowerment. University of California Press.

Halberstam, J. (2011). The queer art of failure. Duke University Press.

Morgan, M. L. (2023). Critical resilience and thriving in response to systemic oppression. Routledge.

Williams, P., & Nzira, V. (2009). Anti-oppressive practice in health and social care. Sage.