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Jul13
New Series: Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications
Last April, I received a very interesting e-mail from the public relations firm Porter Novelli.  The agency was writing on behalf of a group of seven non-profit organizations who had joined together to help educate the public about depression.  Each organization joining the Depression is Real Coalition had pledged to help overcome the stigma associated with depression.  Their message: “medical science has uncovered the biological basis for depression and proven treatments are effective.”  

Porter Novelli had helped the Coalition launch a podcast focusing on depression called the Down & Up Show.  The program, hosted by noted psychologist Dr. Ellen Frank, features information and commentary on the many faces of depression.  The Coalition’s public relations representative wanted to know what I thought about the program and if I would consider writing about it on HealthCareVox.  

 

At First I Wasn’t That Interested, But . . .

I often receive e-mails from people alerting me to new podcasts, social networks and other forms of social media so at first I wasn’t very interested in pursuing the story.  However, two things got me thinking it might be worth focusing on the Coalition and the podcast:

1. The Coalition Is Receiving Support From Wyeth Pharmaceuticals:  I had just published a report focusing on Americans’ perceptions of alliances between non-profit organizations and drug firms.  According to a national survey produced by my firm Envision Solutions, many are skeptical of pharmaceutical companies’ motives for supporting non-profits.  They think drug firms fund these groups solely to increase sales of their medicines.  

Given my interest in this subject, I viewed Porter Novelli’s invitation to cover the podcast as the perfect opportunity to explore issues relating to cause alliances with a drug firm and a non-profit it is supporting.  

2. The Down & Up Show Is A Good Social Media Case Study:  I am always on the lookout for healthcare industry specific social media case studies.  I thought that focusing on the podcast would provide my readers with information about how Wyeth and the Coalition planned, produced and measured the effectiveness of a social media campaign.  

Given this, I decided to contact representatives from Wyeth and the Coalition.  They were kind enough to answer some very tough questions about their cause alliance and the podcast.  Over the next few weeks, I will publish a six part series focusing on these issues.  The titles of these posts appear below:  

-Depression Education, Big Pharma & Cause Alliances: An Overview Of The Issues

-Examining Drug Firms’ Motives For Supporting Non-Profits:
Wyeth Talks About The Depression Is Real Coalition


-Preserving The Independence Of Pharma-Supported Depression Education: A Conversation With Barbara A. Hylard Of The Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance

-The Depression Is Real Podcast: Wyeth’s View

-The Depression Is Real Podcast: The Coalition Speaks

-Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications: My Thoughts

As always, comments and questions about this series are welcome.


7 Comments/Trackbacks




» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part I from HealthCareVox
This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real.  To learn more about this series, please click here.... [Read More]

» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part II from HealthCareVox
This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real.  To learn more about this series, please click here.... [Read More]

» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part III from HealthCareVox
This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real.  To learn more about this series, please click here.... [Read More]

» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part IDepression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part IV from HealthCareVox
This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real.  To learn more about this series, please click here.... [Read More]

» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part V from HealthCareVox
This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real.  To learn more about this series, please click here.... [Read More]

» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part VI from HealthCareVox
This article represents the final installment of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real.  To learn more about this series, please click here.kmmad ... [Read More]

Living Off Balance is now available from author Alison Lake, whose articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Examiner, Baltimore Sun, and Washington Times. She has written extensively on various subjects but this one is deeply personal.

Depression is not easily understood unless a friend or loved one has walked in the shoes of a sufferer for just a day...or witnessed it firsthand.

LIVING OFF BALANCE addresses depression, anxiety or both. Like any other chronic but manageable illness, depression or anxiety does not have to impair or preclude a normal life. Yet, persons afflicted with this prolonged, chemical imbalance in their brain know...life is very different for them.

This book provides healthy suggestions, coping tools, real-life examples as well as input from doctors and professionals familiar with mental illness.

Ms. Lake reaches out to readers with similar experiences, and strives to bring comfort and friendship to those who either suffer from depression or anxiety or those who have witnessed this condition in a close friend or a loved one.


Visit www lbfbooks dot com and the book is on the front page.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author

Alison Lake's first book, Colonial Rosary: The Spanish and Indian Missions of California, was published in 2006 by Ohio University Press. She works as a writer, teacher, and editor in the Washington, D.C. area. She can be contacted at alisonlake at comcast dot net.

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