Entercom Launches Campaign for Mental Health Awareness

Entercom announced Tuesday the launch of the “I’m Listening” campaign for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The campaign includes a two-hour on-air special that will be broadcast live from Seattle on World Suicide Prevention Day, Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. CT / 8:00 a.m. MT / 7:00 a.m. PT across all Entercom platforms, a first in the company’s history. Additionally, the campaign includes suicide prevention PSAs, on-air promos and live conversation airing on Entercom stations beginning today.

The two-hour live special will focus on personal stories from artists and celebrities while offering help and resources to listeners via a live call-in option. The conversation will be led by BJ Shea, Entercom Seattle KISW-FM on-air personality, and will feature guests such as Christine Moutier, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Dr. Ursula Whiteside, clinical psychologist, CEO of NowMattersNow.org.

Pat Paxton

Musicians and celebrities connected to the cause are coming together to help end the stigma connected to talking about mental health. The personalities scheduled to appear during the special program include Metallica; Sarah Barthel, Phantogram; Krist Novoselic, Nirvana; Logic; William DuVall, Alice In Chains; Halsey; Michael Angelakos, Passion Pit; David Draiman, Disturbed; LeRoy Butler, former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers; Kristen Carney, Mentally Ch(ill) Podcast; James Arthur; Gary Allan; Khalid; Jack Antonoff, Bleachers; Justin Furstenfeld, Blue October; and legendary music producer Bob Ezrin; among others.

The topics to be discussed during the special include what all of us can do to prevent suicide, how to talk to friends and family about mental health and suicide, what to do if you or someone you know is struggling with depression, how to get involved in suicide prevention in your local community and where to go to learn more about the cause.

“Like so many millions of people, my family has dealt with mental illness. Until very recently, most people kept quiet about the experience,” said Pat Paxton, President of Programming, Entercom. “‘I’m Listening’ aims to end the stigma of talking about mental health and is the result of all of our stations uniting to offer hope to those affected and the friends and family supporting them. As a media broadcaster, we know that talk saves lives and that is exactly what this show is about – saving lives.”

“Through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we know that everyone has a role to play,” said Logic. “I am so proud to partner with Entercom on a national scale, and I hope that among other things, my song ‘1.800.273-8255’ will help end the stigma of talking about mental health. Radio, quite literally, can save lives.”

If someone you know is going through a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.