Thanks to regional media partners, platforms and agencies across Vermont, the word about suicide prevention awareness and support is getting out.
As part of September’s Suicide Prevention Month, Brattleboro’s Center For Health And Learning (C|H|L) played an active part of the national movement to bolster public education around ongoing suicide prevention strategies, training, and funding needs. Suicide remains a growing public health concern across Vermont and the region, and C|H|L works with an array of regional media to promote better understanding, best practices, programs and resources.
Thanks to media groups including PBS, VT Digger, the New York Times, VPR, Catamount Access Television, The Bennington Banner, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, a significant awareness campaign improved reach, frequency and impression rates across the state.
Quarterly reporting to Vermont’s Department Of Mental Health revealed increased efforts statewide, applying integrated media for improving public awareness around the issues and resources for mental health support. C|H|L provided press releases to 53 regional newspapers, PSA’s were sent to 62 radio stations, and VPR interviewed C|H|L’s Executive Director JoEllen Tarrallo for a live radio talk on Zero Suicide on September 19th, which was then linked on multiple websites and distributed via e-mail as a podcast.
In addition to earned media were disseminated information kits, webpages, articles, PSA’s and Youtube videos, all integral parts of awareness campaigns C|H|L deployed across Vermont. Key partners like Vermont’s Agency Of Human Services, The University Of Vermont, The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, Vermont Care Partners, and The Suicide Prevention Resource Center all participated to ensure that a high quality of approved messaging reached the public.
C|H|L’s ongoing efforts in suicide prevention awareness and comprehensive health education strives to address major issues facing organizations, schools and communities. Today more than ever, it takes an integrated media village to do that. To learn more: www.healthandlearning.org
