Certain types of health topics require particular care in the messaging used to address them due to the possibility of unintended consequences. For issues such as mental illness, suicide, obesity, and drug, alcohol or tobacco use, communications may inadvertently stigmatize those affected, glamorize or normalize risky behaviors, or model the problematic behavior. In addition, the way an issue is discussed and portrayed—both in the media and by health professionals—can contribute to an overall negative narrative about its etiology and prevention that suggests that the problem is overwhelming and solutions are lacking. Such narratives have the potential to discourage individual help-seeking and community action. Suicide is unique among all health topics: there is research demonstrating that certain kinds of media coverage can increase risk among vulnerable individuals, and conversely, can be protective. In response, the field has developed research-based recommendations for both the news media and health professionals. The mental health field similarly has drawn on research (primarily on stigma reduction) to create communications guidance. The challenge is how to disseminate these recommendations and increase the extent to which they are used in practice. This interactive workshop will highlight how three different projects have sought to change professional practice related to messaging about suicide and mental health. These efforts will be used as examples to explore broader questions about health communications practice related to messaging about tricky topics.