Health Department Employees Awarded

SNOW HILL — The Worcester County Health Department’s Suicide Prevention Program and public information officer Katherine Gunby this week were named recipients of three 2011 Awards of Excellence in Public Health Communication.

The health department staff won a Gold Award and a Bronze Award in the media relations-op-ed category for two published columns about suicide prevention. The staff also received a Silver Award in the social media category for its suicide prevention advertising campaign on Facebook.

Each of the winning projects was part of activities to raise awareness and prevent suicide, particularly among college-aged youth. College-aged youth comprised 47 percent of the clients served by the Suicide Prevention Program in 2010. The program provides crisis intervention, support and coordination services for youth and their families for up to 90 days after a suicide threat or attempt.

About The Author: Steven Green

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The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.