Step 3: Emphasize Hopeful & Powerful Messaging

As campaign facilitator, one of your most important steps is developing responsible messaging. Talking about suicide can be complex. Far too often, there is a stigma associated with the subject of suicide.

Experts suggest that suicide is a public health issue. Consider treating it as such in your campaigns.

So what do you do?

HERE ARE THE BEST WAYS TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE MESSAGING:

• Emphasize the hope of recovery through your messaging.
• Highlight the power of long-standing and personal relationships.
• Work hard to frame suicide as a preventable act.
• Provide comprehensive resources for adults, pertaining to youth suicide.
• Link facts and data with suicide when acceptable to the target audience.
• Avoid reporting that suicide is linked to a single event.
• Do not glorify or romanticize suicide.
• Do not normalize suicide or make it to appear common.
• Do not frame suicide as an inexplicable act.