COVID-19 Messaging Guidance

As the country dealt with the ongoing stress and uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important to remember that we all have a role to play in promoting connectedness, belonging, resiliency, and prevention. Many Americans dealt with stress and feelings of despair related to physical distancing, health concerns, job loss, and financial uncertainty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was more important than ever before that we reached out to #BeThere for each other, and share stories of hope and human connection. To help support messaging efforts, the Action Alliance and its partners compiled a list of resources. 

Note: This page is no longer maintained; resources may no longer be up-to-date or available.
 

Public Messengers

• COVID-19 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Key Messages – Provides some key messages related to mental health and suicide prevention in the wake of the pandemic
• Framework for Successful Messaging – Provides guidance and tools that can be used by anyone who develops and disseminates suicide-related content.
• Developing and Delivering Effective Suicide Prevention Messaging: We All Play a Role! [Webinar]
• National campaigns focused on the important role all Americans have in being there for others  
  • #BeThe1To – The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s campaign empowers individuals with tools to start a conversation with someone they are concerned about.
  • #RealConvo – The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s campaign encourages individuals to have real conversations about mental health with the people in their lives.
  • #Take5 – The National Council for Suicide Prevention’s campaign empowers individuals to learn the five action steps everyone can take to save a life.
• Crisis Resources
  • 988: Call or text 988 or chat https://988lifeline.org 24/7.
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
     

Specific Messengers

American Indian/Alaska Native Communities

• Hope for Life Day Toolkit – Provides a compilation of resources for community leaders, grassroot organizers, and health care professionals working with Native communities.
• COVID-19 Materials Developed for Tribal Use (Center for American Indian Health)
• We R Native - My Mind: Suicide (We R Native)
• National Indian Health Board (National Indian Health Board)

Construction

• How to Help Your Employees Cope with the Stress of COVID-19 (Construction Business Owner)

Entertainment Industry (Content Creators, Producers, Talent)

• National Recommendations for Depicting Suicide
• Preventing Suicide - A Resource for Filmmakers and Others Working on Stage and Screen (World Health Organization)

Faith Communities

• Faith.Hope.Life Campaign – Provides resources to help faith leaders and faith communities celebrate reasons for living and to support individuals in their community struggling with mental health and suicide.
• COVID-19: Recommended Preventative Practices and FAQs for Faith-based and Community Leaders (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Family Members with Children

• Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers during Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• Helping Your Child Navigate the Coronavirus (Education Development Center)
• Helping Children Cope Emotionally with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress)
• Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Crisis (Child Mind Institute)
• COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit (CDC)
• Sound It Out (Ad Council)

Family Members of Older Adults

• How to Introduce Seniors to Video Chatting to Combat Loneliness (Family Matters In-home Care)

Health Care Providers/Clinicians 

• Coronavirus/COVID-19 Information Hub (American Psychiatric Association)
• Supporting Clinicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Annals of Internal Medicine)
• Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers (World Health Organization)
• Caring for Our Caregivers During COVID-19 (American Medical Association)
• For Mental Health Providers: Working with Patients Affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
• Providing Suicide Care During COVID-19 (Zero Suicide Institute)

Law Enforcement/Public Safety

• Words Matter: How to Safely Communicate About Suicide [Webinar]
• Breaking the Silence: Suicide Prevention for Law Enforcement [Video]
• Protecting Against Stress and Trauma [Video]
• Coronavirus Guidance for Peer Support 2020 (International Association of Fire Fighters)

News Media (Reporters, Journalists, Editors)

• Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide
• Reporting on Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic (International Association of Suicide Prevention)
• Reporting and COVID-19: Tips for Journalists (DART Center for Journalism and Trauma)

Sport

• What to Do When the Sports Season Gets Cut Short (The Jed Foundation)

Workplaces (Employees and Employers)

• Promoting Workplace Mental Health In The Age of COVID-19 (Society of Human Resource Managers)

Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families

• Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention Resources (Veterans Crisis Line, Military OneSource, TAPS)
• #BeThere – The U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ #BeThere campaign encourages individuals to take concrete actions to support service members and veterans.
• More Than Ever Before campaign (PREVENTS)
• Physical Distancing + Social Connection: The Department of Defense Tips on Staying Safe and Connected (DOD)

Youth/Young Adults

• COVID-19 Support for Teens and Young Adults (CDC)
• Offering Help (Active Minds)
• Coronavirus Mental Health Resource Guide (The Jed Foundation)
• Seize the Awkward (Ad Council, AFSP, and The Jed Foundation)
• Guide to Mental Health Assistance for Students (Best Value Schools)

Additional COVID-19 Mental Health Support

• Active Minds – Active Minds has developed a resource page for how to stay connected virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• AFSP – The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has developed specific messaging resources related to mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• DOD – The U.S. Department of Defense's Military OneSource provides a number of COVID-19 specific resources.  
• EDC – The Education Development Center has developed a toolkit of resources related to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
• Love is Louder – A project of The Jed Foundation, the Love is Louder campaign has developed resources and tools to help take care of both physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• MHA – Mental Health America has compiled a range of resources and information related to mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness has developed a resource guide, available in both English and Spanish.  
• SPRC – The Suicide Prevention Resource Center has compiled a selection of web pages and information sheets on mental health and coping with the effects of COVID-19.
• VA - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has compiled information and resources specific to veterans and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 800-273-TALK (8255) or text 'HOME' to 741741.