Action Alliance Framework for Successful Messaging
Initiative Supported by:
In July 2022, our country entered a new era of crisis services, marked by the adoption of 988 as the new easy to remember three-digit dialing code for anyone experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis.
Messaging
Guidance
Strategy involves planning and focusing messages, so they are as effective as possible.
Positive Narrative means ensuring that the collective voice of the field is “promoting the positive” in the form of actions, solutions, successes, or resources.
Guidelines means using any specific guidance or best practices that apply.
Safety is avoiding content that is unsafe or undermines prevention.
Because messaging matters! Certain types of public messaging about suicide can increase risk among vulnerable individuals.
Conversely, communications can be a powerful tool to promote resiliency, encourage help-seeking, publicize prevention successes, and encourage actions that help prevent suicide.
It’s for suicide prevention messengers, rather than the media.
It addresses “public messaging”: any communications released into the public domain. From posters, PSAs, and social media to websites, newsletters, fundraising appeals, event publicity, press interactions, public talks, and advocacy efforts, each contributes to the public’s perceptions about suicide and suicide prevention.
Our Framework Handout provides an overview of the four elements to consider when messaging.
These examples are designed to bring the Framework for Successful Messaging to life and inspire you to think about the four elements of Strategy, Safety, Positive Narrative, and Guidelines when developing or choosing your own messages and materials.