iHeartMedia Wants To 'Let's Talk' About Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness

iHEARTMEDIA, along with the NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) and the CHILD MIND INSTITUTE, have launched "Let's Talk," a multi-year campaign to raise awareness of mental health and issues such as anxiety and depression. The campaign aims to use iHEARTMEDIA’s 850 stations as a virtual support system for people struggling with anxiety and depression, to let them know they're not alone, while encouraging others to check in on the those affected by starting a conversation on mental health. 

From MAY 1st, 2019 through 2020, iHEARTMEDIA will air a variety of PSAs on mental illness that describe the signs and symptoms associated with the most common mental health concerns. During that time, iHEARTMEDIA’s on-air personalities will have open and organic discussions about their personal struggles with mental illness and provide reminders to listeners to take care of their mental well-being and help others who may be struggling.

The radio spots drive listeners to iHEARTRADIO.COM/TALK, which will list curated resources published by NAMI and the CHILD MIND INSTITUTE, guides to starting the conversation with a friend, child or healthcare provider, a symptom checker and general information on mental health. 

“Research shows that talking about mental illness has the power to reduce stigma and to make a suffering person feel less isolated,” iHEARTMEDIA VP/Marketing and Communications JESSICA KING said. “By activating iHEARTMEDIA’s greatest assets –- our listeners, personalities, artists, airwaves and digital platforms -– we hope to change the course of this global epidemic and help normalize conversations around mental illness and encourage them to happen more regularly.”

Also in MAY, iHEARTMEDIA will showcase the CHILD MIND INSTITUTE’s digital campaign #MyYoungerSelf, where celebrities confide in what they'd tell their younger selves about mental health in 30-second audio clips. Participating artists and celebs include KRISTEN BELL, WAYNE BRADY, WEEZER, PETE WENTZ, CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD, IMAGINE DRAGONS and others. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with iHEARTMEDIA to spread the word that mental health disorders are real, common and treatable, and that asking for help is the bravest thing young people can do,”  CHILD MIND INSTITUTE Pres. DR. HAROLD S. KOPLEWICZ said. “Years ago most people suffered in silence with mental health disorders, and people didn’t want to believe that children and adolescents could be anxious or depressed. That’s changing now, and it is a real sign of the times that an organization like iHEARTMEDIA thinks it is important to educate its audience and build awareness.”

“One in five of us is affected by mental illness in a given year, and half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14," NAMI National Dir./Strategic Partnerships KATRINA GAY said. "Early intervention can make a big difference and can save lives. People affected by mental illness often encounter stigma, or invisible barriers to acceptance and understanding. This is something we need to change, together. NAMI is thrilled to partner with iHEARTMEDIA in our fight to end the stigma of mental illness through encouraged conversation, through education, increased awareness and social action.”

A similar campaign by BELL MEDIA in CANADA, "BELL LET'S TALK," has been running successfully since 2010.

« see more Net News