{"id":12559,"date":"2023-05-29T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-29T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=12559"},"modified":"2023-05-29T14:42:52","modified_gmt":"2023-05-29T18:42:52","slug":"changing-the-conversation-on-mental-health-seizing-the-awkward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2023\/05\/29\/changing-the-conversation-on-mental-health-seizing-the-awkward\/","title":{"rendered":"Changing the Conversation on Mental Health: Seizing the Awkward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During this year\u2019s PRSSA Leadership Assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona, attendees participated in the Leadership Training Session, \u201cChanging the Conversation Around Mental Health,\u201d conducted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Vice President of Mission Engagement Doreen Marshall, Ph.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness on such an important topic that communication professionals have to be aware of. Ms. Marshall shared the importance of downstream work, which is key to the AFSP as it\u2019s focused on helping not only those struggling with mental health, but also their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current situation in the United States is concerning. According to the AFSP, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-olds. Additionally, 1 in 4 young adults experience a mental health challenge each year and 2.6 million college students have serious thoughts of suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to consider that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the scenario. A staggering 80% of college students reported that the pandemic negatively affected their mental health and 63% of 18 to 24-year-olds reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in the past 2 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, AFSP partnered with other organizations such as The Jed Foundation and The Ad Council to launch \u201cSeize the Awkward,\u201d a project that seeks to encourage young adults to reach out to friends they suspect may be struggling with mental health issues and start a conversation about it with them, even if it may feel uncomfortable at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative\u2019s name perfectly portrays its core: giving young people permission to start conversations about mental health, inspiring them to reach out to their friends, and showing them how to do it by acknowledging that it can feel awkward to start the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Marshall shared with Chapter leaders the priorities and tactics that \u201cSeize the Awkward\u201d had for 2022. These included partnering with TikTok, Meta, Reddit, and Pinterest to develop custom content supported by significant donated media as well as leaning into tentpole moments such as the Minority Mental Health Awareness month to reach people of color and LGBTQIA+ audiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those expectations were not only met but surpassed. According to the information shared during the Assembly, the project\u2019s press release was shared by 311 outlets for a total potential audience of 199 million people. \u201cSeize the Awkward\u201d was integrated into community events with experts highlighting the importance of reaching out and having conversations about mental health among young adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact of this initiative was massive. Over $87 million of total donated media support were obtained, 5 billion total impressions were reached and 70% of those aware of the PSA \u201cWe Can Talk About It\u201d talked to a friend that was struggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Public Relations students and professionals, we have the responsibility to communicate about mental health \u2014 which is as important as physical health \u2014 and that\u2019s something we should keep in mind from now on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without a doubt, Ms. Marshall\u2019s Leadership Training Session changed the conversation around mental health. We can now understand that we all need to get involved and advocate for suicide prevention; reaching out to someone if we believe they may be struggling is key. Approximately 76% of young adults will turn to a peer in time of a crisis, so remember to always \u201cseize the awkward\u201d and start the conversation. When the world doesn\u2019t listen, be the friend who does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Teo Ignacio Landoni is a sophomore studying public relations and institutional communication at Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE). He currently serves as the secretary of communication at PRO Diversidad Provincia de Buenos Aires, a political space that works towards the inclusion of diversity in the public agenda, and will be serving as PRSSA National vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging during the 2023-2024 term. To continue the conversation with Teo, feel free to connect<\/a> with him online.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During this year\u2019s PRSSA Leadership Assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona, attendees participated in the Leadership Training Session, \u201cChanging the Conversation Around Mental Health,\u201d conducted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Vice President of Mission Engagement Doreen Marshall, Ph.D. This was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness on such an important topic that communication professionals have to be aware of. Ms. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":12560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3512,2893,2898,2895,3505,3412],"tags":[2227,2676,15,3710,40,3711,3303],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t