2018 Capitol Day
The PSA contest winners and their families, along with the GLS grant team and Prevent Suicide PA have been invited to the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) Capitol Day event in Harrisburg, PA.
The GLS grant partners each year with Prevent Suicide PA to host an annual public service announcement contest for high school students. Students are encouraged to develop a PSA (e.g., poster, audio clip, video, Snapchat filter) adhering to safe messaging guidelines that promotes information and resources to support youth suicide prevention. Prior submissions may be accessed online and are available to download and/or view at no cost. To find out more about this contest, and to view or access submissions from past years of the contest, click below.
click here
The GLS grant team and Prevent Suicide PA partner with the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Harrisburg Senators for a series of “Suicide Prevention Night at the Ballpark” events between April and June. The student winners of the annual PSA contest and their families are invited to attend these events and take part in disseminating their awareness messages to the public. Information and materials are handed out through tabling, and the winning PSAs are displayed on the jumbotron. At some events, students have even had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch! See below for pictures from past “Suicide Prevention Night at the Ballpark” events.
Cordelia Elaiho who partnered with Prevent Suicide PA by providing surveys to gauge the effectiveness of showing PSAs during baseball games, is shown on the jumbotron throwing the first pitch.
Students from Grove City Area High School were recognized on field at the Pirates game, their 60 seconds PSA video was shown on the Jumbo-tron prior to the game.
Julia Atkins, the 2017 PSA poster contest winner with the Phillie Phanatic. Julia was selected to throw out the first pitch.
Green Castle-Antrim High School 60 second PSA being shown on the Jumbo-Iron prior to the game
Students from East High School in Erie Pennsylvania attending after winning the 2016 30 second video category.
Representatives from Prevent Suicide PA talking with Rascal the Senators Mascot!
Prior to the game, Perri Rosen and Govan Martin participated in an interview, which was also displayed on the jumbotron. They were able to share with over 3,000 attendees all about suicide prevention in Pennsylvania. They also informed the attendees of activities and upcoming events of both organizations, and encouraged them to stop by the info booths.
We had a great night of baseball and awareness on Friday, May 20. Prior to the game, the 2016 PSA winners were honored by participating in a pregame tour of the park, which culminated in a photo-op with the Phillies Phanatic!
On June 16, 2015 Prevent Suicide PA teamed up with the Philadelphia Phillies to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Representatives from OMHSAS (Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services) were also present. The Phillies provided us with the perfect space to display suicide prevention resources, where we were joined by local and national organizations; Minding Your Mind, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Aevidum, and Delaware County Suicide Prevention Task Force. We handed out wristbands, Lifeline cards, and other relevant material. Many attendees stopped at the table to gain information or to connect with a representative.
Many of the winners of the PSA contest attended the Phillies game as the guests of honor! The winners were present during batting practice and had an opportunity to see the stadium from the point of view of the announcers in the broadcasters loft. After touring the Diamond Club and seeing artifacts from the original Veteran’s Stadium, they ended their tour in the Media Room where the post-game interviews are held and had a chance to spend some personal time with the Phillie Phantic himself!
Hannah Salazar the 60 second video PSA contest winner with the Phillie Phanatic following throwing out the first pitch! The night was a home run! Thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies for helping us honor the winners.
On Friday, May 16th, 2014 Prevent Suicide PA teamed up with Harrisburg Senators to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Representatives from OMHSAS (Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services) were also present. The Senators provided us with the perfect space to display suicide prevention resources for all of those attending the game. We handed out posters, wristbands, Lifeline cards, and other relevant material. Many attendees stopped at the table to gain information or to connect with a representative.
We were fortunate to have winners or representatives from each of the 4 categories of our 2014 PSA contest. The winning submissions were displayed on the jumbotron for all to see. The winners also received a certificate signed by the Secretary of Public Welfare, Beverly D. Mackereth. It was a proud moment for all involved!
Cordelia Elaiho who partnered with Prevent Suicide PA by providing surveys to gauge the effectiveness of showing PSAs during baseball games, is shown on the jumbotron throwing the first pitch.
Students from Grove City Area High School were recognized on field at the Pirates game, their 60 seconds PSA video was shown on the Jumbo-tron prior to the game.
Julia Atkins, the 2017 PSA poster contest winner with the Phillie Phanatic. Julia was selected to throw out the first pitch.
Green Castle-Antrim High School 60 second PSA being shown on the Jumbo-Iron prior to the game
Students from East High School in Erie Pennsylvania attending after winning the 2016 30 second video category.
Representatives from Prevent Suicide PA talking with Rascal the Senators Mascot!
Prior to the game, Perri Rosen and Govan Martin participated in an interview, which was also displayed on the jumbotron. They were able to share with over 3,000 attendees all about suicide prevention in Pennsylvania. They also informed the attendees of activities and upcoming events of both organizations, and encouraged them to stop by the info booths.
We had a great night of baseball and awareness on Friday, May 20. Prior to the game, the 2016 PSA winners were honored by participating in a pregame tour of the park, which culminated in a photo-op with the Phillies Phanatic!
On June 16, 2015 Prevent Suicide PA teamed up with the Philadelphia Phillies to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Representatives from OMHSAS (Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services) were also present. The Phillies provided us with the perfect space to display suicide prevention resources, where we were joined by local and national organizations; Minding Your Mind, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Aevidum, and Delaware County Suicide Prevention Task Force. We handed out wristbands, Lifeline cards, and other relevant material. Many attendees stopped at the table to gain information or to connect with a representative.
Many of the winners of the PSA contest attended the Phillies game as the guests of honor! The winners were present during batting practice and had an opportunity to see the stadium from the point of view of the announcers in the broadcasters loft. After touring the Diamond Club and seeing artifacts from the original Veteran’s Stadium, they ended their tour in the Media Room where the post-game interviews are held and had a chance to spend some personal time with the Phillie Phantic himself!
Hannah Salazar the 60 second video PSA contest winner with the Phillie Phanatic following throwing out the first pitch! The night was a home run! Thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies for helping us honor the winners.
On Friday, May 16th, 2014 Prevent Suicide PA teamed up with Harrisburg Senators to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Representatives from OMHSAS (Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services) were also present. The Senators provided us with the perfect space to display suicide prevention resources for all of those attending the game. We handed out posters, wristbands, Lifeline cards, and other relevant material. Many attendees stopped at the table to gain information or to connect with a representative.
We were fortunate to have winners or representatives from each of the 4 categories of our 2014 PSA contest. The winning submissions were displayed on the jumbotron for all to see. The winners also received a certificate signed by the Secretary of Public Welfare, Beverly D. Mackereth. It was a proud moment for all involved!
The PSA contest winners and their families, along with the GLS grant team and Prevent Suicide PA have been invited to the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) Capitol Day event in Harrisburg, PA.
This event offers another opportunity to recognize the efforts of high school students in Pennsylvania, enabling them to share their PSAs and advocate for youth suicide prevention. Students have the opportunity to interact with Pennsylvania legislators and politicians, as well as other suicide prevention advocates in the commonwealth
During the day in Harrisburg, we participate in a Mental Health Rally where the PSA winners have the opportunity to share about why they chose to enter the PSA contest and the significance of spreading a message of hope.
GLS grant team members have tabled at a variety of health and wellness fairs on college campuses and at state and local conferences, trainings, and awareness events. If your organization is interested in disseminating youth suicide prevention resources at a local event, please use the contact box below to determine whether a member of the GLS grant team or Prevent Suicide PA may be available to help table and/or share information and resources.
If you, or someone you know, is in Emotional Distress or thinking about Suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or contact Crisis Text Line by texting "PA" to 741-741.
Perri Rosen, PhD, NCSP | Project Director, Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Grant
Department of Human Services | Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health
T: 717-772-7858 [office]
T: 717-303-4611 [mobile]
E: c-prosen@pa.gov
This site was funded under award SM061750 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Prevent Suicide PA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Additionally, the Garrett Lee Smith grant team does not specifically endorse any one model or program related to suicide prevention.