The company on Tuesday launched the “I’m Listening” campaign for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. A two-hour on-air special that will be broadcast live from Seattle on World Suicide Prevention Day, Sunday, September 10, at 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT/8 a.m. MT/7 a.m. PT across all Entercom platforms. The campaign includes suicide prevention PSAs, on-air promos, and live conversations. The live special will focus on personal stories from artists and celebrities while offering help and resources to listeners via a live call-in option. The conversation will be led by BJ Shea, Entercom Seattle KISW-FM on-air personality.
Dr. Christine Moutier (pictured), AFSP Chief Medical Officer said, “No matter who you are, you have a powerful role to play in preventing suicide. We’re at a point in time where so many people, including celebrities and musicians, have opened up about their experience with mental health or their loss to suicide. That brave act of opening up about mental health challenges has helped to shape the culture. Now it’s time to deepen our knowledge and learn what to do if you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one. The ability each of us has to make people in our lives feel valued can’t be underestimated.”
“Like so many millions of people, my family has dealt with mental illness. Until very recently, most people kept quiet about the experience,” said Pat Paxton, President of Programming, Entercom. “‘I’m Listening’ aims to end the stigma of talking about mental health and is the result of all of our stations uniting to offer hope to those affected and the friends and family supporting them. As a media broadcaster, we know that talk saves lives and that is exactly what this show is about – saving lives.”
For more information about the campaign visit www.ImListening.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #ImListening.
If someone you know is going through a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.
