About

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Framework for Successful Messaging is based on input from many different individuals and groups from the suicide prevention, mental health, and communications fields.

Jack Benson, Mark Weber, and the rest of the Project Team are grateful for the time, expertise, and insights shared by the following individuals and organizations.

Expert Panel

A group of experts in suicide prevention communications participated in a one-day in-person meeting in January 2013 to provide input for a strategy to advance the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention priority to “change the public conversation about suicide.” The Framework for Successful Messaging is one product that had its roots in that meeting.

Participants
  • Madelyn Gould, Columbia University
  • Anara Guard, Education Development Center, Inc.
  • Courtney Knowles, JED Foundation and Love Is Louder
  • Gary Kreps, George Mason University
  • David Litts, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
  • Elizabeth Neely, Reingold, Inc.
  • Kenneth Norton, National Alliance on Mental Illness, New Hampshire
  • Dan Reidenberg, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
  • Ellyson Stout, Suicide Prevention Resource Center
  • Ben Vipond, Reingold, Inc.
  • Ashley Womble, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • Eileen Zeller, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Facilitators:
  • Emily Barocas, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
  • Linda Langford, Suicide Prevention Resource Center and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
  • Nedra Kline Weinreich, Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.
Project Co-Leads:
  • Jack Benson, Reingold, Inc.
  • Mark Weber, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Briefings and Presentations

The Framework Project Team held a series of presentations and briefings in 2013 to present background research and receive input on the field’s needs regarding public messaging about suicide. We thank participants from the following organizations and events:

  • American Association of Suicidology Workshop Session
  • American Public Health Association Panel Session
    • Federal Working Group on Suicide Prevention
    • National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
    • Executive Committee
    • Public Awareness and Education Task Force (full membership)
    • Secretariat
    • Suicide Attempt Survivors Task Force
    • Survivors of Suicide Loss Task Force
    • Task Force co-leads
  • National Council for Suicide Prevention
  • Suicide Prevention Resource Center Staff

Project team

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Framework for Successful Messaging is the result of collaborative work and contributions from across the suicide prevention and mental health communities.

The Changing the Conversation (CtC) priority group of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is leading this effort, which is co-led by Mark Weber (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and Jack Benson (Reingold, Inc.) 

See the Acknowledgements above for other contributors who have helped to advance the Framework and the CtC priority