Public Messaging Action Area

Public Health Messaging Action Areas Progress:

This Action Area developed the BeThereWis.com Website, BeThereWis FaceBook Page & Group, and the BeThereWis Twitter account to promote the VA’s “Be There” suicide prevention campaign. The website and social media accounts provide the Task Force a “landing site” for locally generated advertising. This allows the Task Force to measure which pages are viewed and how often items are viewed.

The BeThereWis website has been enhanced with a menu of Veteran specific resources, a listing of Events sponsored or developed by Task Force as well as important suicide prevention conferences and will be expanded to provide the actions of the Northwestern Wisconsin Task Force on Veteran Suicide Prevention.

 

The Public Messaging Action Area team has been making great progress on getting the message out to the public. Below are a few of our recent messages and media events.

  1. Here is one of our radio advertisements which aired on IHeart radio in Sept 2020:
  2. Here is an example of our email blast sent out by IHeart radio. This marketing approach resulted in more than 1000 new visits to the BeThereWis.com Website:
  3. Here is one of our latest media interviews on Spectrum 1 Milwaukee news. Follow this link.
  4. One of our: FREE COVID Coach App For Veterans to Make It Through the Pandemic Turbulent Times – Launched as Part of BeThereWIS.com MILWAUKEE (Oct 1, 2020) The Veterans Administration’s COVID Coach app, available free to everyone including non-Veterans, is designed help people get through the prolonged duress of the pandemic. This effort was launched to promote the fact that October is National Depression Education and Awareness Month and to provide a proactive approach to addressing suicide prevention. “Someone dies of suicide every 10 hours in Wisconsin, and 1 in 5 of those deaths are a Veteran”, said Dr. Bert Berger of the Zablocki VA Medical Center. “Our efforts surrounding BeThereWis.com aims to change that with an action-oriented Task Force creating awareness and providing resources for veteran suicide prevention. ”BeThereWIS.com provides quick and easy access to online resources and contact information. The Southeastern Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Task Force is the coalition behind the website and ongoing initiatives, bringing together organizations that serve veterans and non-profits focused on suicide prevention. The introduction of this free COVID Coach App is part of the larger efforts associated with the Task Force’s Wisconsin efforts. The Task Force’s focus for October will center on how wellness is critical to suicide prevention. Information on downloading the free app can be viewed by clicking HERE.A Fact Sheet on the app accompanies this press release. Dr Bert Berger of Zablocki VA Medical Center, the head of the taskforce, is available for interviews. He can be reached at 414 384-2000 x41275 or email: bert.berger@va.gov.About the Southeastern Wisconsin Task Force on Veteran Suicide Prevention: The Task Force was formed in November 2019 with more than 25 community agencies as a component of the Federal VA’s Suicide Prevention plan which is focused on developing community coalitions to develop action plans to prevent Veteran suicides. The Task Force has developed 4 Action Areas to save Veteran lives: Public Health Messaging; Outreach and Whole Health; Clinical Services and Research & Policy.Task Force Contacts:Dan Buttery, WMC President/CE0414-273-5533  DButtery@WarMemorialCenter.orgPatricia Clason, Veterans Health Coalition Executive Director414-374-5433   Patricia.Clason@sbcglobal.net
  5. Jan 21, 2021: Check out the story from the Expert Panel discussion about Desert Storm at 30 on Spectrum News: Time Serving the Nation, and Where They Are Today (spectrumnews1.com)
  6. Jan 19, 2021: Check out the presentation by an expert panel on Minority Veteran Outreach Issues: Minority Veteran Advisory Panel Discussion

See all of our other press releases HERE