Public Knowledge of Suicide

BullseyeGoal: Strengthen public knowledge of suicide and ability to respond appropriately for self and others.

Objective: Provide educational opportunities for the public, especially for those disproportionately affected, on risk factors for suicide and effective prevention efforts.

FriendsAction Steps:

1. Increase the availability of trainings to preparefriends, families, and communities to recognize and respond to suicide risk. When selecting a training, consider the population and setting.

2. Utilize storytelling in campaigns to show hope and strength. Include individuals with suicide-centered lived experience to craft authentic stories of struggle and support. Incorporate messages that emphasize hope, help, and strength in educational materials and campaigns.

3. Partner with trusted messengers in disproportionately impacted and historically oppressed communities to develop, implement, and evaluate communication activities in order to build trust and credibility.

4. Engage news media on best practices for safe, accurate, and responsible reporting on suicide.

5. Promote awareness of available resources for individuals in crisis.

Interventions geared towards certain demographics are strongest when members of that community help design, implement, and evaluate the work. Community-Based Participatory Action Research is a method for community engagement and changemaking (Chu et al. 2010)

Evidence-Informed Resources

Browse training options available to various audiences that build knowledge about suicide and skills to respond

Best practices for communicating about suicide in public talks, posters, social media, and any other form of public messaging

Tips for culturally adapting gatekeeper trainings

Best practices for the media reporting on suicide