Acadia Hospital Outreach Program Earns Recognition

The Acadia Hospital won a First Place Lamplighter Award in the Community Relations/Outreach/Advocacy category for its role in coordinating and promoting the PALS Youth Suicide Prevention Project in the spring of 2005. The award was presented at the New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) annual Lamplighter Awards Luncheon on May 9^th.  

Acadia worked in partnership with Penobscot Theatre to produce and offer the play to area high schools in the spring of 2005. Ten high schools participated over a three week period, with over 2,000 students viewing the play and participating in the post-performance discussion. 

The 1,800 completed surveys indicated an increased awareness of the issue of youth suicide and of the prevention resources that are available.  

"We are thrilled to be recognized by NESHCo for providing quality youth outreach education on such an important topic," commented Acadia Hospital CEO/CNO Dorothy E. Hill, RNC. "Our collaboration with Penobscot Theatre ensured a very high quality experience for the students who saw the show, as was indicated in the survey feedback." 

The program was funded in part by Bangor Noontime Rotary, the Auxiliary of Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Michael Irons Memorial Endowment, and the National Endowment for the Arts.