Your Voice Counts: An online forum to engage the public and stakeholders in California in suicide prevention activities

A three-year suicide prevention social marketing funded by the Mental Health Services Act and overseen by the California Mental Health Services Authority includes a media campaign reaching the general public and a variety of audiences reflecting diverse cultures, individuals across the lifespan and those at elevated risk for suicide. It is integrated with other suicide prevention projects throughout the state to strengthen the network of crisis centers, expand suicide prevention training, and decrease stigma around mental illness. To integrate these activities, build on existing models, and gather input reflective of the diverse demographics of California, an online forum (Your Voice Counts) was created that allows individuals to take polls, weigh in on campaign concepts and designs, and discuss activities occurring throughout the state. Your Voice Counts facilitates information sharing and a dialogue around suicide prevention activities across the state of California. Features of the forum include announcements, input topics in the forms of polls, discussions or surveys, and workgroups. A successful campaign is largely dependent on the extent to which the campaign is relevant for and embraced by the 58 diverse counties in the state. So a second function of the forum is to allow the 58 counties to shape the campaign and make it relevant to their people. The presentation will demonstrate how the site functions, how members were recruited, how the forum facilitates collaboration and feedback, how it informed suicide prevention activities, and discuss challenges and how those were addresses.