Erich Mische. Photo: Benny L Photography
A global initiative stresses compassion over comparison.
“More than anything else, what we want to have happen here is we want parents to have conversations with their kids about the harms that are on these social media platforms,” Erich Mische says.
That’s the goal of the Keep it Digitally Safe (KiDS) campaign, Mische says. KiDS is a part of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), a nonprofit committed to suicide prevention, advocacy and raising educational awareness.
Mische, a Woodbury resident, has been the CEO of SAVE for two years and says running an organization devoted to sensitive topics is complex. “It’s a subjective matter that you have to be committed to immersing yourself in,” he says.
The Bloomington-based organization was founded 36 years ago when six Minneapolis couples each lost a child to suicide. More than three decades later, it continues to take approaches that are as elaborate as the issue itself.
Photo: SAVE
SAVE first looks toward action—knowing what to do with sensitive information if a colleague, family member or friend reaches out in a time of crisis. Its One Step Ahead program educates trainees on facts, risk and protective factors, and warning signs, and is free to enroll in. “Our training is the equivalent to CPR in suicide prevention,” Mische says.
Lethal Means Safety is another key SAVE program and aims to ensure safe storage and controlled access to dangerous items, such as firearms, medications or sharp objects. Parents or guardians can request a cable gun lock free of charge to prevent purposeful or accidental discharge. Lastly, SAVE provides assistance and resources to help suicide loss survivors, who could become at-risk themselves, navigate the loss of a loved one. “Giving them resources, access to mental health counseling [and] support groups gives us an opportunity to get involved in postvention, which serves as prevention,” Mische says.
Most recently, it is working on policy issues related to social media. The KiDS campaign supplements conversations about the negative impact of social media on kids’ mental health and suicidal ideation and is supported by these coalitions.
KiDS invites creative minds (“Whether they’re 50 or 15,” Mische says.) to design social media warning labels to raise awareness of its potential harms and will award three scholarships ($5,000, $3,000 and $2,000) to its winners. Mische says they’re looking forward to the submissions from young voices. “What are their messages on what they want their peers and peers’ parents to be aware of?” Mische asks. The campaign, which launched in March, quickly found success and has grown across four continents.
“We have to teach parents not to stigmatize the kids further by making them think they’ll get yelled at or get in trouble [because maybe something happened] … and they’re afraid to tell their parents and find themselves in a place of hopelessness and despair,” Mische says. And that’s exactly what these warning labels are for—to kick off healthy conversations about the risks of social media between parents and their children.
Stride to SAVE Lives
In partnership with Saint Ambrose’s FALLFEST, SAVE is producing its second annual 5K and fun run on September 20. “… [Last year] I approached Father Peter … and said that SAVE would love to do this event as long as everyone understood that we would talk about suicide,” Erich Mische says. “It’s an extraordinarily unique and courageous place that Saint Ambrose said, ‘Yes, let’s do this.’”
The event isn’t just about miles covered but about coming together to raise awareness, Mische says. “This 5K gives us an opportunity to look someone straight in the eye and have a one-to-one conversation,” he says.
Find more information about FALLFEST by visiting save.org and saintambrosecatholic.org.
KiDS is accepting submissions through 11:59 p.m. September 30. Find more information and submit your design at keepitdigitallysafe.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Call or text 988, or chat online at chat.988lifeline.org. The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine is available from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. CST weekdays; call 1.800.950.NAMI (6264), text HelpLine to 62640 or email helpline@nami.org.
Suicide Awareness Voices
Facebook: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Instagram: @savevoicesofedu
X: @SAVEvoicesofedu
YouTube: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
