‘Speak Up And Save LGBTIQ+ Lives’ is the focus of the newest Behaviour Change campaign, developed by The Shannon Company.
The campaign aims to prevent suicide among LGBTIQ+ people aged between sixteen and twenty-seven years, who are five times more likely to attempt suicide than non-LGBTIQ+ people.
Transgender people in Australia aged over eighteen are nearly eleven times more likely to attempt suicide.
#SpeakingUpSpeaksVolumes, the core campaign, was developed by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) in collaboration with The Shannon Company. It highlights how displays of support can make a significant difference in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people.
The Shannon Company Strategist Lily Tidy said the campaign has emotional power and authenticity because it features people telling their own stories.
“The campaign videos feature high school Vice-Principal Colin and his ex-student Natalie; their story is about the growth of Colin as an ally as he came to realise how important speaking up for his LGBTIQ+ students was in ensuring their psychological and physical safety.”
Jo Read, NWMPHN Program Officer for Suicide Prevention Initiatives said that the campaign was more than just raising awareness.
“We’re endeavouring to build sustainable networks within the community that will endure, and over the long term shift behaviours and attitudes.”
We’re about encouraging those people who recognise
Tthe value of living in an inclusive society to actually speak up and play an active role in showing support and stamping out discrimination in their own communities.”
The campaign will feature on digital OOH sites across North Western Melbourne, as well as on social media and programmatic video. There is also a campaign micro-site where people can get directly involved in the campaign.
The campaign was developed as part of the National Suicide Prevention Trial, which is funded by the Commonwealth Government. NWMPHN identifies people who are LGBTIQ+ as a high risk cohort in their catchment area.
Support services are available at:
- Rainbow Door: 1800 729 367
- QLife: 1800 184 527
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 2 4636
