CalMHSA Launches Web Site to Urge Suicide Prevention

October 04, 2012 CS Staff

SAN DIEGO — As part of its comprehensive suicide prevention initiative, the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) has launched a Web site for its new “Know the Signs” campaign.

The goal of the three-year suicide prevention social marketing campaign is to help prevent suicides on a statewide level. Built on three key messages, the program encourages individuals to know the warning signs for suicide, find the words to offer help to someone contemplating suicide and to reach out to resources.

CalMHSA, an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities, sought to create the campaign after reviewing very disquieting statistics. In 2010, 3,823 Californians took their own lives, and 16,425 people were hospitalized for self-inflicted injuries.

“These facts are a grim reminder of the need for prevention and early intervention programs in California,” CalMHSA Program Manager Stephanie Welch said. “The ‘Know the Signs’ campaign serves as a way for us to educate our communities how to play a role in the prevention and early intervention process by reaching out to loved ones who may be at risk for suicide.”

Funded by California’s Mental Health Services Act, the Web site is now live and precedes the media campaign, which will launch in November statewide and will include English and Spanish TV spots, outdoor billboards and print ads.

For more information on the Know the Signs campaign, visit www.suicideispreventable.org.

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