Dissemination Methods for Suicide Prevention Programs

After determining the appropriate audience(s) for dissemination, many methods can be used to share findings and successes of a rural suicide prevention program.

Some methods of dissemination for suicide prevention programs include:

• Sharing information through the organization's website or on social media
• Creating and distributing program materials such as flyers, posters, and promotional giveaways
• Creating public service announcements for television, radio, and print media about how to recognize signs of suicide and how to respond
• Participating in local festivals or events
• Identifying individuals and groups that can serve as a respected voice within a community and having them help spread the program's message (for example, tribal leaders, gun shop owners, local elected officials)
• Publishing program or policy briefs
• Submitting articles or press releases to local newspapers
• Presenting at regional or national conferences, including:
  • American Association of Suicidology Annual Conference
  • National Rural Health Association Annual Conference
  • National Association for Rural Mental Health Annual Conference

It is important to develop and tailor messages for specific audiences, and to think about who would be most effective at delivering that message. For example, discussing access to firearms in a community where gun ownership is a common part of the culture can be poorly received if conveyed in the wrong way or delivered by the wrong person. A successful message might focus on safe storage and removal and be delivered by a member of the gun-owning community or a gun shop owner, for example.

Developing a dissemination plan in advance can ensure messages have the greatest impact. Messages should follow safe messaging guidelines for suicide prevention. Partnering with local, state, regional, or national collaborators with a broad reach and established voice in the suicide prevention field — such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) or the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) — will help amplify the program's message and expand the program's reach when disseminating results.

Resources to Learn More

Quick-Start Guide to Dissemination for Practice-Based Research Networks
Document
Provides an overview of how to develop and implement a plan for disseminating research-based information. Discusses analyzing targeted audience and stakeholders, defining key messages, methods and timing for distributing information, and evaluating progress of the dissemination plan.
Organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRN)
Date: 6/2014