In 2017, led by the Action Alliance, national partners in suicide prevention united around a shared hashtag, and coordinated messaging across the field. How well did #NSPW work? What are the lessons learned and possible next steps? Chat with #SPSM, 11/5/17, 9pCT.
What happened during #NSPW 2017?
- Thunderclap campaign
- #ElevatetheConvo Twitter Chat (about messaging in Sept.)
- Share hashtag #NSPW
- Website presence (on Action Alliance website)
- Shareable social media icons (for partners use on their social media channels)
- And a whole lotta partner blogs:
o American Association of Suicidology
o American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
o Education Development Center, Inc.
o Families for Depression and Awareness’s Care for Your Mind
o National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s
o Suicide Prevention Resource Center
o U.S. Health and Humans Services
And check out the NSPW 2017 Metrics:
- Partners who signed on: 50+ partners
- Website traffic: 2,000+ users
- Thunderclap campaign: 600+ supporters signed up with a total social reach of 3.1 million
- #NSPW hashtag: 110 users, 703 posts, and a social reach of 100,000+
We will discuss how Sally Spencer Thomas and others organized #ElevateTheConvo chats, how that contributed to #NSPW and how many people with lived experience amplified the digital signal to broadly share a message.
Remember, when #SPSM had *just started* back in 2013? We talked about the limited reach and coordination of social media messaging during Suicide Prevention Month. In just four years, the field has really grown in it’s savvy, coordination, and reach. Let’s chat about how far we’ve come in this field, and where we can go next.
Watch us LIVE here:
Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas: As a clinical psychologist, inspirational international
speaker, impact entrepreneur, and survivor of suicide loss, Dr. Spencer-Thomas sees
the issues of suicide prevention and mental health promotion from many
perspectives. Dr. Spencer-Thomas was moved to work in suicide prevention after her
younger brother, a Denver entrepreneur, died of suicide after a difficult battle with
bipolar condition. Known nationally and internationally as an innovator in social change, Spencer-
Thomas has helped start up multiple large-scale, gap filling efforts in mental health including the award-
winning campaign Man Therapy (a program using humor to engage men in mental health) and the
nation’s first comprehensive workplace program designed to help employers with the successful
prevention, intervention, and crisis management of suicide. A recent invited speaker at the White
House, Spencer-Thomas’ goal is to elevate the conversation and make suicide prevention a health and
safety priority in our schools, workplaces and communities. Spencer-Thomas has also held leadership
positions for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the International Association for
Suicide Prevention, the American Association for Suicidology, and the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline. She has won multiple awards for her advocacy including the 2014 Survivor of the Year from the
American Association of Suicidology, the 2014 Invisible Disabilities Association Impact Honors Award,
and the 2012 Alumni Master Scholar from the University of Denver, the 2015 Farbarow Award from the
International Association for Suicide Prevention and the 2016 Career Achievement Alumni Award from
the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology.
She has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver, Masters in Non-profit
Management from Regis University, a Bachelors in Psychology and Studio Art with a Minor in Economics
from Bowdoin College. She has written four books on mental health and violence prevention. She lives
with her partner and three sons in Conifer, Colorado.
Connect with Dr. Spencer-Thomas by visiting her website and signing up for her newsletter at
http://www.SallySpencerThomas.com and by following her on Facebook @DrSallySpeaks, Twitter
@sspencerthomas and LinkedIn. Come “elevate the conversation” with her by participating in her
monthly podcasts, blogs and twitter chats!
Suicide Prevention Social Media #SPSM 
