LI ad agency, foundation partner to raise awareness about mental health, save lives

Hauppauge-based advertising agency Austin Williams and the Christopher A. Coluccio Foundation have partnered on a three-part video series that aims to address a growing suicide crisis. The videos that will be used internally and externally for the organization, all provided on a pro bono basis.

The three-part “What Did I Miss?” video series was developed to raise awareness about what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services describes as an urgent and growing public crisis.

The foundation was created in October 2021 by Christopher Coluccio after his son Christopher had died by suicide earlier that year. The foundation’s mission is to celebrate and memorialize Christopher’s spirit, serve and educate the local community, and open lines of communication between parents and their children about mental health, depression and suicide.

“We are so moved by Christopher’s story and wanted to create something that displays the mission of the Christopher A. Coluccio Foundation,” Rick Chiorando, CEO of Austin Williams, said in a news release about the series.

“Teen suicides are rising at an alarming rate across Long Island,” Chiorando added. “We created these videos to educate and raise awareness about this growing crisis, hoping to make a difference and save lives by addressing underlying mental health issues.”

The “What Did I Miss?” series features Long Islanders who have share this in common: They each lost a family member to suicide. With the help of video production company, SpotOn Productions, the videos show family members gathering and sharing their personal stories, and talking about signs that they may have missed that their loved one was struggling with their mental health.

“Since the passing of our son, Christopher, in 2021, the goal of the CAC Foundation has been to change the conversation and reduce the stigma surrounding youth suicide and mental health,” Christopher Coluccio, CEO and co-founder of the Christopher A. Coluccio Foundation, said in the news release.

“We hope that these videos reach those who may be struggling, have lost a child, or are worried about their child's well-being and helps them realize they are not alone,” Coluccio added. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the families for their courage and the amazing teams at Austin Williams and SpotOn Productions for enabling us to share their stories.”

Copyright © 2024 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.