African American Mental Health Campaign Launched (posted 3/1)

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation unveiled a national public service campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African American community. This campaign is a part of a larger National Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign that aims to encourage friends and family members of those who are living with a mental health problem to step up to help support a loved one recover from a mental health problem. The NNED has supported the development of these campaigns and PSAs targeted to specific groups served by the NNED by putting together a Multicultural Steering Committee that provided input throughout the development of the materials, in conjuction with the Ad Council.  The African American campaign is the first of the series to be launced. The event was part of Black History Month and was held to coincide with the first annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) National Mental Health Awareness Day.

The radio, print, out-of-home and Web videos are designed to reach 18-25 year old friends and family members of a person living with a mental health problem. Culturally relevant work has been developed for the African American Community. The PSAs direct audiences to visit www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov to learn more about mental health and what you can say or do to help.

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