Ads direct people to crisis intervention services offered by PRS CrisisLink

Fairfax County’s suicide prevention campaign aimed at helping teens in crisis was recently named a Bronze winner in the 37th Annual Telly Awards. The series of videos, titled Reach Out. Find Hope, are currently airing on local cable television, in movie theatres and lobby screens, and on digital platforms.

After a series of youth suicides in 2014, the Fairfax County Health Department worked with its county partners at Neighborhood & Community Services and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board to develop the series of video public service announcements.

Produced by LeapFrog Solutions and EFX Media, the 30-second ads direct people to crisis counseling offered by PRS CrisisLink by calling 703-527-4077 or texting REACH OUT to 85511. One spot is aimed at teens and young adults who may be experiencing depression or anxiety and reassures them that You are not alone. Another spot encourages friends of those individuals to seek help because losing a friendship is better than losing a friend. A third spot targets parents who may have concerns about a child and urges them to make that call.

While some suicides occur without any outward warning, most people who are suicidal do give warnings, said Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Director of the Fairfax County Health Department. It’s important that we learn to recognize the signs of someone at risk, take those signs seriously and know how to respond to them.

To view the PSAs, click the links below:

• Playlist (all three)
• Reach Out. Find Hope: Individual
• Reach Out. Find Hope: Friend
• Reach Out. Find Hope: Parent

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards are the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. With over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, the awards represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. More information can be found at www.tellyawards.com.

For suicide prevention resources in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, go to https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/prevent-suicide or http://www.suicidepreventionnva.org.

Related News: Fairfax County’s “Reach Out” Campaign Earns More Acclaim, August 24, 2017