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.
