A volunteer ad campaign to recruit more staff for the Samaritans support line lets pedestrians save a virtual girl by picking up the phone. Developed by a team at London's Central Saint Martins School, the ad aims to simulate the same difficult situation that Samaritans volunteers face.
The ad features a video billboard with a girl on the verge of suicide. After she picks up the phone to make a call, a payphone next to the ad begins ringing. If you pick up, a pre-recorded voice thanks you and then encourages you to become a volunteer for Samaritans. If nobody answers the ringing phone, the virtual girl is seen swallowing sleeping pills and then collapsing. It then states, "Let us not miss a single call."
Suicide-Simulating Billboards
A Volunteer Ad Lets You Pick Up the Phone to Save a Girl
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Volunteer Ads - Using interactive billboards to simulate scenarios and engage viewers in volunteer recruitment.
2. Emotional Advertising - Creating impactful ad campaigns that elicit an emotional response from the audience to convey a message.
3. Innovative Outreach Strategies - Exploring creative methods to reach potential volunteers and raise awareness for important causes.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Opportunities for advertisers to leverage interactive and emotional campaigns for impactful messaging.
2. Volunteer Recruitment - The use of immersive and engaging techniques to attract and recruit volunteers for various causes.
3. Mental Health Support - Innovations in outreach methods to raise awareness and provide assistance for individuals struggling with mental health.