Suicide and depression campaigns launch ahead of R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day
The battle to turn the tide of depression and reduce suicide rates, particularly amongst men, has seen the release of two new campaigns supporting R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day.
WPP digital agency, Fusion, has created an interactive mascot for R U OK? Day on September 8 in the shape of a question mark which uses interactive technology, 3-D printing and micro electronics.
The icon, dubbed ‘Quentin’, has been designed to be passed from person to person as it starts a national tour promoting the charity, with the skin of the mascot glowing with animated lights allowing it to communicate with people, either through an SMS message or by shaking the icon.
Fusion Sydney managing director, John Chaplin, said it was a new way to use technology to send a powerful message to get people to connect with friends and family.
“Technology is an amazing thing and has enabled us to create a ground-breaking and interactive way for people to reconnect with their family and friends,” Chaplin said.
“Our team has pushed the boundaries of 3D printing, mobile, SMS automation and micro-electronics to create a piece of interactive art that will help start a million conversations.”
Cummins & Partners has created a moving ad for its client, Movember, supporting World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.
The work, Suicide Notes Talk Too Late, features a number of men reading from suicide notes penned in the past, before revealing that they had been the authors of the notes.
Cummins’ work drives home the point the people need to talk, even when the conversations are uncomfortable.
Movember foundation CEO, Owen Sharp, said he wanted the ad to trigger conversations and called on people to share it.
“We wanted to create a powerful piece of content that would ignite important conversation about suicide, the complex issues that surround it and what everyone can do to address it,” Sharp said.
“Conversations that we hope will save lives and prevent the far-reaching and painful consequences for the families, friends and communities of the men tragically lost every day.”
Credits: Movember
- Client: Movember Foundation
- Jeremy Macvean
- Juliette Smith
- Agency: Cummins&Partners
- Creative Contributors: Adam Slater, Regina Stroombergen, James Bennet,
- Jim Ingram & Ben Couzens, Adam Ferrier, Nikia Shepherd, Tom Ward, Emma Fox, Jess
- Thompson, Graeme Phillips
- Production Co: Mr Smith
- Producer: Helene Nicol
- Director: Craig MacLean
- Stills Photography: Craig MacLean
- Cameraman: Matt Toll and Earle Dresner
- Editor: Seth Lockwood
- Post Production: Method Studios
- Sound: Rodney Lowe
- Sound Studio: Production Alley
- Music: Bryony Marks
- Camera Gear: Panavision Asia – Greg Lloyd
- And additional help from:
- Grant Wilson
- Terry Kelly
- Rick McMullen
- Fleet Lighting
- Brendon Guthrie
