Missouri Foundation for Health: Communicating effectively about firearm suicide prevention
Date: August 15, 2023 at 11:00
The Missouri Foundation for Health was created in the year 2000, following Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri’s conversion from nonprofit to for-profit status. It is the largest organization of its kind in the state of Missouri and one of the largest in the country.
MFH is committed to making lasting positive changes in health including but not limited to behavioral health, childhood obesity, infant mortality, and firearm suicide prevention. They are committed to eliminating inequities within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes.
BMSG is working with Missouri Foundation for Health grantees to help them develop and deliver strategic messages about firearm violence and suicide prevention, using framing that centers health equity and activates allies, from faith-based communities to veterans.
On August 15, 2023, BMSG conducted the first training in a two part series. This virtual 2-hour introductory training was designed to help MFH grantees craft and deliver effective prevention messages. During the session, BMSG trainers Shaddai Martinez Cuestas and Rosaura Wardsworth guided participants through hands-on exercises to practice message development and receive feedback.
Early October 2023 Cuestas Martinez and Wardsworth flew to St. Louis, Missouri to meet the grantees in person at the Missouri Foundation for Health and take part in a two day convening that offered deep reflections on their firearm suicide prevention work over the past two years. The convening was filled with personal stories and encouragement from thought leaders across organizations.
Wardsworth and Cuestas Martinez also offered the second training in the two part series, where they covered enhancing the grantees core messages with values-rich language, acknowledging negative feelings and showing success is possible.
After enhancing their messages grantees were able to engage in mock interviews where they covered how to answer difficult questions, using plain language, pivoting, and avoiding elephant triggers.
The training concluded with tips for speaking with a reporter as well as how to properly pitch a story. In September 2023 several grantees were contacted to take part in interviews for Suicide Awareness Month landing three grantees coverage in the Kansas City Beacon.
This is an ongoing project for Berkeley Media Studies Group.