PENNSYLVANIA: Graphic Design Students Develop Suicide Awareness Posters

The Express

Pennsylvania College of Technology graphic design students have completed a project to spread awareness about suicide prevention and encourage a public discourse about depression and suicide on campus. Students received training in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and were instructed to develop messaging, imagery, and marketing strategies for 11-by-17-inch posters. Mallory L. Weymer, student health coordinator and wellness education/suicide prevention specialist, said, “The poster design project was such a great opportunity for students to not only learn about suicide prevention and all the different risk factors and warning signs, but also how to effectively communicate a challenging message.” Weymar intends to use some of the posters for the Suicide Prevention through Information, Referral, Intervention, and Training (SPIRIT) Project, which is funded through a Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Campus Suicide Prevention Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “The work that these students have done has the potential to save lives, and change the way people think about depression and suicide, and that’s such a powerful thing,” she said.

Spark Extra! Learn more about Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention grantees.