"Hold On" Suicide Prevention Outreach Campaign

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in Oregon for ages 10 years old - 44 years old and is the overall 9th leading cause of death. In the United States, suicide is the overall 12th leading cause of death (CDC Fatal Injury Reports, 2020). Suicide impacts our patients, our families, our friends, and even ourselves as well as the world-wide society in which we live.



How do we engage with patients, as well as those who have not yet even begun mental health treatment, such that they reach out for help when they are having suicidal thoughts?



The "Hold On" Suicide Prevention Outreach Campaign is a unique approach to this vital concern.



Child Psychiatrist Diane Kaufman, MD is a poet, artist, and humanism in medicine awardee. She is a suicide attempt survivor, suicide loss survivor, and has Bipolar II Disorder. Dr. Kaufman is an internationally award-winning creative suicide prevention activist recognized for utilizing the expressive arts for mental health well-being.



Her co-creative “Hold On” song (inspired by Dr. Kaufman’s “Heartbreak Times Infinity” poem written in response to the suicide death of Stephen Boss aka tWitch) won Best Lyric Song at the Euro Video Song Awards. The “Don’t Give Up” song animation (based on Dr. Kaufman’s poem written in response to her patients’ anxiety, despair, and suicidal ideation) was awarded Best Music Video at the Golden Earth Film Award. The song "Lift You Up” (written in response to the suicide death of Naomi Judd) was awarded Best Original Song at Portland New Alternative Voices (International) Festival and Best Lyric Song at the International Sound Futures Award.



All these song videos have the 988 suicide prevention number.



Spirits can be lifted and lives can be saved through the music of the "Hold On" Suicide Prevention Outreach Campaign.



Music Videos:

https://youtu.be/MnJSHGjk_cw

https://youtu.be/3KUWeAmVn8o

https://youtu.be/4XtWQtkawoI