Steve McNair taped youth suicide prevention television spot before death; Project now shelved

McNair taped suicide prevention PSA before death

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee state officials say they had been preparing a youth suicide prevention public service announcement featuring former NFL quarterback Steve McNair before he was shot and killed last week.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities says it’s shelving the 60-second television spot, which hasn’t yet aired.

The department issued a statement Thursday saying “broadcasting it now is not only inappropriate but doesn’t serve the community.”

Department spokeswoman Jill Hudson said McNair taped the spot in April, and producers had been doing post-production work in hopes of using the announcement sometime this year.

Police say a 20-year-old girlfriend of McNair’s shot and killed him on July 4 before killing herself in Nashville.