The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) launched “OK2TALK,” a campaign to increase understanding and awareness about mental health in youth. The Tumblr-based community campaign includes television and radio ads in English and Spanish that feature teens and young adults opening up about their experiences with mental health. These ads aim to prompt conversation and let people know that help is available and effective. The site also encourages young adults and teens to share their personal stories of recovery, tragedy, struggle, or hope, and includes resources for those seeking help.
The “OK2TALK” campaign is inspired in part by the personal struggles of NAB President and former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith’s 22-year-old son, Garrett, who wrestled with depression and ultimately took his own life.
One in five Americans experience a mental health issue, yet only one in three reach out to receive mental health services, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. President Obama called for a national dialogue on mental health, a year-long initiative that will bring together 200 mental health experts, 40 organizations, a dozen members of Congress, and celebrities like Glenn Close and Bradley Cooper to facilitate nationwide discussions about youth and mental health. The White House also launched a website, mentalhealth.gov, with its tag line “Let’s talk about it.”
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