Description

With Ryan Duffy, treasurer and communications committee chair for the Michigan Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Marianne Huff, LMSW, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in Michigan.

Suicide is one of the most challenging topics for broadcasters to report on or discuss on air. But safe reporting can save lives. This presentation from the Michigan Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention gives research-based recommendations for broadcasters and journalists to report on suicide and incidents of suicide in the headlines.

Biographies

Ryan Duffy is the treasurer and communications committee chair for the Michigan Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He started volunteering and fundraising for AFSP after losing his 23-year-old sister Caitlin to suicide in 2013.

Ryan is proud of the work AFSP does in Michigan and across the country to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. He is committed to advocating for the organization and helping to achieve the important goal of reducing the number of suicides nationwide.

Ryan works in corporate communications and media relations for an energy company. Prior to that he was a broadcast journalist for 15 years working with news outlets in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Florida and Michigan.  He lives in Brighton with his wife Cassidy, and two young daughters, Violet and Mabel.

Marianne Huff, LMSW, has more than 20 years of leadership experience, including 14 years of executive-level staff leadership and advocacy within the behavioral health field. Marianne has a passion for improving the lives of people affected by mental health conditions and their families and is an advocate for changes in public policy and legislation that will positively impact the care and treatment of persons with mental illnesses.

Prior to her leadership roles at MHAM, Marianne served as the Executive Director of Allegan County Community Mental Health Services for six years and as the Director of Advocacy for the Ability Center of Greater Toledo in Sylvania, Ohio. Additionally, as an Advocate at the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Marianne helped individuals and families access mental health services. Marianne uses her personal lived experience to optimistically and passionately lead, advocate and educate to improve the lives of those who struggle with behavioral health challenges and eliminate barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness.

Download webinar resources here:

Recommendations on Reporting Suicides

Top Ten Notes on Suicide Reporting