Public Relations Plan

The first idea I had in mind is organizing a free mental health workshop on campus. This event could focus on stress management, mental health awareness, or coping strategies for academic pressures. Hosting workshops not only provides valuable resources for students, but also allows for direct interaction with the CAPS team in a supportive and low pressure environment. Workshops offer students the opportunity to learn about mental health in an informal setting. Which can promote a culture of openness. Well, researching about different organizations and events. I came across a website on the “ American psychological Association” that included hosting events like this that allows organizations to build trust with their community while providing an educational experience that is aligned with students' needs. While reading chapter 12 in Berkowitz book it states “Understanding the differences in communicating across different cultures is important because encoding and subsequent communication often poses challenges.” To continue, these workshops have the potential to draw in a wide range of students from those already aware of CAPS to those who may have been unaware of the service available to them. 

    The second idea is to send a press release to local media, such as the university's news outlets, or the local newspaper. A press release can inform students about what CAPS offer, its goals, and any upcoming events. This method is effective because it reaches a large audience, including students who may not follow social media or marketing ads, but we’ll still see new stories. In Berkowitz textbook it states “ Successful communication can ultimately lead to controlling the channel of distribution for market share. Increasingly, pull strategies are being implemented in healthcare promotions.” This means that by sending out a press release, CAPS can use a “ pulse strategy” to draw students who are looking for reliable information. Rather than pushing ads or sponsored posts, a press release, then trusted new sources, compose students towards this because it provides them with valuable, straightforward information. 

   Both ideas will help make CAPS more visible and encourage students to take advantage of the mental health resources in a comfortable way. By hosting a free, CAPS can directly engage with students and offer helpful information, while a press release can spread the word to a wider audience. Together, these strategies can create an environment where seeking help for mental health is more accepted and accessible for everyone on campus.