New PSAs from VA and the Ad Council Strive to Reduce Veteran Suicide

Ahead of Suicide Prevention Month in September the US Department of Veterans Affairs VA and the Ad Council today released new public service advertisements PSAs for their ongoing national campaign amp8220Donamp8217t Wait Reach Outamp8221 Since 2021 the campaign has encouraged Veterans who are struggling to visit VAgovREACH a comprehensive website designed to help them navigate the wide range of resources availableThe new PSAs are inspired by the insight that military Veterans are often the first to help others but it can sometimes be tougher for Veterans to ask for help or accept it for themselves The PSAs pose the simple question amp8220When was the last time you asked for helpamp8221amp8220There is nothing more important to VA than ending Veteran suicide and a key part of that effort is encouraging and normalizing the act of reaching out for supportamp8221 said Secretary Denis McDonough US Department of Veterans Affairs amp8220Through this ongoing campaign weamp8217re trying to spread awareness and hope that Veterans and all of us can make it through tough times Suicide is preventable and we can all play a role by checking in on each other and encouraging those who are struggling to seek the support they need Donamp8217t Wait Reach Outamp8221Although the Veteran suicide rate meaningfully decreased in both 2019 and 2020 the suicide rate among Veterans in 2020 was 57 higher than nonVeteran adults according to the most recent available data from the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Reportamp8220Veterans by nature and training are deeply committed to helping others and that means they often put service before selfamp8221 said Heidi Arthur Chief Campaign Development Officer at the Ad Council amp8220Through this emotionally resonant new film we are pleased to continue this critical partnership with the VA to encourage Veterans to offer themselves the same empathy and support that they would give to othersamp8221The PSAs were created pro bono by advertising agency GSDampampM The creative strategy was informed by extensive research with Veterans and the ad features a diverse range of Veterans reflecting on the difficulties of asking for support Academy Award winning film director and screenwriter Kathryn Bigelow known for her work on films including The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty directed the PSA filmamp8220It was an honor and a pleasure to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Ad Council on this pieceamp8221 said Bigelow amp8220There was a sincerity and integrity to their approach that made the experience gratifyingamp8221The amp8220Donamp8217t Wait Reach Outamp8221 PSAs will appear across the country in time and space donated by the media including broadcast radio digital social outofhome and print formats Since the campaignamp8217s inception major media platforms have committed to uplifting this effort including FOX Meta Reddit Twitch Yahoo and YouTube The PSAs will also be distributed to the Ad Councilamp8217s network of over 1850 broadcast TV stations and 9500 radio stations across the countryamp8220In this new iteration of the amp8216Donamp8217t Wait Reach Outamp8217 campaign we emphasize the shared experiences of service and teamwork to remind Veterans that no battle is fought aloneamp8221 said Bo Bradbury Senior Vice PresidentManaging Director at GSDampampM amp8220Then through one potentially lifechanging question amp8216When was the last time you asked for helpamp8217 we want Veterans to realize that they can take the next step and reach out to a team thatamp8217s ready to help themamp8221The amp8220Donamp8217t Wait Reach Outamp8221 campaign is part of VAamp8217s 10year strategy to end Veteran suicide through a comprehensive public health approach combining community prevention and clinical intervention strategies The campaign is also part of the larger Ad Council Mental Health Initiative a multiyear effort to change social norms and create a society that is more open accepting and proactive when it comes to mental healthSince first launching in October 2021 the campaign has garnered over 40 million in donated media support resulting in more than 35 million visits to VAgovREACH In addition to resources for Veterans the website also offers downloadable social media assets for friends and loved ones of Veterans to help spread the word throughout Suicide Prevention Month and beyondIf you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year Call 988 and Press 1 text 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLinenetChatPosted at MediaVillage through the Thought Leadership selfpublishing platformClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageorgMyersBizNet

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

New PSAs from VA and the Ad Council Strive to Reduce Veteran Suicide

Publish date

Channel

Archived in

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

More Videos:

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

New PSAs from VA and the Ad Council Strive to Reduce Veteran Suicide

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

TAGS:

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

Cookies