Contact: Georgia Clarke

STARKVILLE, Miss.—According to national statistics, suicides claim the lives of more than 41,000 people annually—and are the second leading cause of death on college campuses. Alcohol is the most abused substance.

As Mississippi State begins the 2015-16 school year, the Mississippi Coalition for Partners in Prevention is launching a media campaign to combat suicide and alcohol abuse.

As part of the 20-week campaign, the university and all of the state’s other public institutions of higher learning, as well as a majority of community colleges in the state, are being flooded with posters and social media messages providing helpful tips, statistics and positive messages information to incoming students. “Hotline” telephone numbers also are provided.

“Hopefully, blanketing the college-age student with prevention media messages will reduce these two high-risk behaviors,” said Joyce Yates, Mississippi State’s director of health promotion and wellness.

Regina Hyatt, who is in her first semester as the university’s new vice president of student affairs, said the campaign has the potential to make a significant impact.

“We want students to know the facts and we want them to reach out for help,” Hyatt said. “The Mississippi Coalition for Partners in Prevention campaign puts information in the hands of our students so they can make good decisions and know where to go for help.”   

For more on MCPP, visit www.health.msstate.edu/staydry/index.php.

MSU’s department of health promotion and wellness provides weekly messages via Instagram @msuhealthpromo, Twitter @MSUHEW and Facebook at facebook.com/healthedatmsstate.

MSU is Mississippi’s flagship research university, available online at www.msstate.edu.