The U.S. is in a mental health crisis, with 70 million adults grappling with mental health challenges, many of whom hold attitudes and beliefs that deter them from seeking help. As you may know, I am working with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders on a national scale. Our initiative is called Stop Stigma Together and it is in the very beginning of its work.
One of our partners is the Ad Council. This is the organization that produced Rosie the Riveter, Smokey the Bear, and Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk, among many other national campaigns. Titled “Love, Your Mind,” the campaign is a love letter from your mind, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mental health, and serving as a powerful reminder that when we tend to our mental well-being, we become better equipped to face life’s challenges.
The very first of our ads came out on October 24, aimed at reaching young men of color. You can watch the 60-second version here. Please take the time to watch this. This ad series has launched nationally and includes resources publicly available for anyone who wants to know more or needs assistance.
Two of our other partners, Shatterproof, and the National Council on Mental Wellbeing teamed up with the Ad Council and the Centers for Disease Control to launch a different series, Start With Hope, aimed at delivering a message of hope to those living with substance use disorders as well as those at risk of developing a substance use disorder, with a focus on supporting Black and Hispanic/Latinx populations, connecting them with harm reduction strategies and treatment resources to start their journeys to wellbeing and recovery. You can watch one of these 30-second ads here. The resource page for Start with Hope is here.
I am deeply honored to be associated with all of these. And there are many more to come. Please share any of these with your colleagues, in the hopes that they will reach the right people.
“There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone’s business.”
– Vikram Patel
