OVERVIEW
Wyoming has a serious suicide problem. It represents the fifth leading cause of death, impacting people of all ages, races and backgrounds. The incidence of suicide among adult men is particularly striking.
Personal interviews among suicide-attempt survivors yielded important insights. Although suicide attempts were often precipitated by one or more stressful events, these men had been suffering severe and constant mental pain or “psyche-ache” for years. Consequently, upstream intervention was deemed essential.
THE GOAL WAS TO INFLUENCE EARLY HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR BY ENCOURAGING THOSE WITH ACUTE DEPRESSION TO SEEK ASSISTANCE AT LOCAL COUNSELING CENTERS. SECONDARILY, TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SEEK HELP FOR THEIR LOVED ONE.
THE CAMPAIGN CAPTURED THE FEELING OF ISOLATION
WITH A STRONG CALL-TO-ACTION.
TACTICS INCLUDED TELEVISION, OUTDOOR, RADIO
AND PLACE-BASED SIGNAGE.
THE CAMPAIGN RESULTS YIELDED AN ENCOURAGING INQUIRY RATE AMONG AFFECTED MEN AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES.
