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Suicide Prevention Public Service Announcements
Andrea Wiglesworth1, Josephine P Abate1, Bonnie Klimes-Dougan1
1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Crisis
|December 4, 2020
Summary
Individuals at high risk for suicide recalled fewer details from prevention messages compared to low-risk individuals. This suggests a need for more memorable suicide prevention messaging strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Public service announcements (PSAs) are crucial for disseminating suicide prevention information.
- Limited understanding exists regarding how individuals at risk for suicide recall PSA content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify which suicide prevention PSA features young adults recall.
- To examine recall differences between low-risk and high-risk young adults.
Main Methods:
- 140 participants viewed a simulated suicide prevention billboard.
- Written recollections of billboard features were collected 15 minutes post-viewing.
- Recollections were coded and analyzed to compare low-risk and high-risk groups.
Main Results:
- High-risk participants recalled significantly less of the help-seeking message compared to low-risk participants.
- Few differences were observed in the recall of main messages or graphical elements.
- Short-term recall was assessed after a single exposure.
Conclusions:
- Current suicide prevention messages may not be optimally memorable for high-risk individuals.
- Developing more easily recalled help-seeking messages is recommended for target audiences.
- Future research should enhance internal and external validity for broader applicability.