Des Moines, Iowa – This week, ending on Friday February 12, 2016, former foster kid turned national speaker and author Travis Lloyd is seeking support in the form of online votes for a new Suicide Prevention campaign aimed at impacting college campuses nationally titled #STOP1in12. #STOP1in12 represents the epidemic of high suicide rates amongst college students aged 18-24 and references the statistic that 1 in 12 college students has written down a suicide plan as a result of stresses related to school, work, relationships, social life, and still developing as a young adult.
Center For Disease Control (CDC) lists suicide as the #1 cause of death amongst this age-range.
The #STOP1in12 campaign is competing for initial launch funding through the Dream Big Grow Here Competition, hosted by the Center for Business Growth and Innovation at University of Northern Iowa. This funding will allow the campaign to launch with marketing and awareness in the first 5 states of the developing national campaign. Sponsors of the event include Iowa Bankers Association, iHeart Media, VentureNet Iowa, Technology Association of Iowa, IA Source Link, America’s Small Business Development Center of Iowa, U of I Credit Union, and UI Partners.
Anyone with a Facebook account can log in from their mobile device or computer to vote.
To vote, visit www.STOP1in12.org & click the link to the Dream Big Grow Here competition at the top of the page.
Campaign Developer Travis Lloyd has personal experience with stressful situations as a former foster kid himself who later served multiple communities as a mental health nurse and Mobile Crisis Worker, even talking someone off a bridge at one point. Travis states, “There were times that I would get called to talk a college student out of swallowing a bunch of pills because they were home-sick or got broken up with. So many people laugh at that, but it is a harsh reality and one that matters. We as a public need a better understanding so we can support each other instead of brushing those feelings under the rug.”
The staff at Changing Lives Entertainment is encouraging everyone in the community to be an active ambassador simply by voting. Every vote can make a big difference in launching this campaign on a national level by funding marketing efforts and initial media production.
The first campaign stop, where they plan to do the initial video shoot, is scheduled for September 9, 2016 during Suicide Awareness Week at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, IA.
To sign up for #STOP1in12 Campaign Updates, visit www.STOP1in12.org
