Join us in September in recognition of
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH/WEEK
As we look to Suicide Prevention Month in September, with Suicide Prevention Week taking place 9/8-9/14, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention ( Action Alliance )—the nation’s public-private partnership with 250+ partner organizations—wants to remind you about the important role we all play in suicide prevention. Through a series of e-blasts in the coming months, we hope to equip you with the necessary resources and tools for your organization to plan for and participate in this important national conversation. 
Developing Effective and Safe Messaging for
Suicide Prevention Month/Week
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How we publicly communicate and talk about suicide can have a negative or positive impact. Research has found that certain types of public messaging about suicide can increase risk among vulnerable individuals. On the other hand, communications can also be a powerful tool to promote resiliency, encourage help-seeking, and highlight successful prevention efforts. 

The Action Alliance's Framework for Successful Messaging, highlighted during the webinar Developing and Delivering Effective Suicide Prevention Messaging: We All Play A Role, outlines the key components to consider when messaging to the public about suicide, including: strategy, safety, conveying a positive narrative, and following applicable guidelines. 

Strategy
The strategy component refers to the upfront thinking and planning that is done to help messages succeed and resonate with people. Some best practices when it comes to the strategy include:
 
  • Consider the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your message (e.g., who is my audience? what is my goal?).
  • Don’t start with a particular channel or message in mind.
  • Shift from ‘communicating for awareness’ to ‘communicating for action’ (e.g. include action steps your audience can take as a result of your message).
 
Safety
The safety component focuses on how to avoid potentially harmful messages and content. When it comes to safety, some best practices include:

  • Screen content before sharing it.
  • Be consistent in keeping safety in mind.
  • Be mindful of safety when sharing stories about individual suicide attempts or deaths.
  • Accurately convey suicide as a complex issue with no single cause (e.g., avoid messaging that implies there was a single cause, like bullying or PTSD, behind a suicide).
  • Highlight solutions, rather than problems.
  • Make sure data, if used, are strategic, safe, and prevention-focused (e.g., the number of people who sought help, or the number of people who reached out to support someone).
  • Use non-stigmatizing language (e.g., died by suicide instead of committed suicide).
 
Positive Narrative
The positive narrative component is focused on increasing the frequency of public messaging that promotes the positive aspects of suicide prevention. Some best practices for following a positive narrative include:
 
  • Highlight actions that people can take to help prevent suicide (e.g., how people can #BeThere for someone who is struggling).
  • Reinforce that prevention works.
  • Convey that resiliency and recovery are possible.
  • Share that effective programs and services exist, and help is available.
  • Avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes or misconceptions (e.g. avoid messages that focus on stigma, and instead share messages of hope and resiliency).

Guidelines
Once your strategy is developed, it’s important to follow best practice guidelines. There are guidelines available for a variety of channels, settings, populations, and topics, which can be found here. 

As you continue planning for Suicide Prevention Month ( #SPM19) this September, please take time to ensure your messaging aligns with these best practices and promotes hope, help-seeking, and resiliency. We all have a role to play in suicide prevention, not only during the month of September but all year long.  
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