(4/21/14 – Syracuse, N.Y.) Minnesota-based nonprofit SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) recently selected ABC Creative Group to produce a national PSA campaign addressing suicide prevention.
ABC will develop a cross-platform campaign focused on middle-age men, a demographic that is less likely to seek help for physical and/or mental health issues . The PSAs will include television and radio spots as well as other indoor, outdoor, print and digital media. ABC’s approach to this important subject will be vetted by experts, focus groups, research and careful evaluation to ensure its safety and efficacy.
SAVE was one of the nation’s first organizations dedicated to the prevention of suicide and was a co-founding member of the National Council for Suicide Prevention. Over the past two decades, the organization has grown from small, all-volunteer grassroots group of passionate survivors – those relatives and friends of suicide victims – to one of the leading nonprofits in the nation with staff dedicated to prevent suicide. SAVE has extensive expertise and is known world-wide for their work and research on developing safe public messaging for suicide prevention.
“We are really excited about this partnership,” said Dr. Dan Reidenberg, SAVE’s executive director. “Our shared goal is to develop something that truly makes a difference to a population that generally doesn’t seek out help when we know if they did, we have a great chance to help keep them from the tragedy of suicide.”
ABC began its relationship with SAVE a few years ago via the volunteer work of Account Manager Jamie Leszczynski, who lost her brother to suicide. She is actively involved in suicide prevention as an organizer of a community walk held each year in September in Oswego, NY, and as a gatekeeper, assisting those contemplating suicide or individuals close to someone they feel may be a threat to themselves.
“We’ve always taken great pride in our cause-related marketing around the state and region. This is a unique opportunity to put our creative efforts on a national stage and, most importantly, try to help save lives,” said ABC Owner and Creative Director Travis Bort. “SAVE is a great fit for the agency not only because of our personal connection, but because the entire team truly stands behind the cause.”
ABC’s cause-related marketing services have created successful campaigns for a number of nonprofits over the years, including work promoting mental health awareness for OnCare, encouraging recycling in Onondaga County and recruiting volunteers for the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY).