Campaigning alongside recognized brands and organizations that are raising awareness about mental health is advantageous for everyone involved.
This symbiotic relationship benefits campaigners by spreading the word of their activism among young people and other relevant groups, which has a positive knock-on effect on society as a whole.
As a bonus for your recovery-promoting business, you benefit from being legitimized by association with an established mental health campaign, and both partners in the agreement can make a bigger impact by sharing audiences. Lead to Recovery can help you with mental health awareness campaign ideas aimed at eliminating the stigma associated with expressing mental health concerns.
Reasons to Partner With a Behavioral Health Campaign
Behavioral and mental health awareness has come to the forefront of global conversation in recent years. The World Health Organization launched an initiative to increase awareness and promote wellbeing about the collective global mental health crisis in 2019. Depression has been touted as a leading cause of disability around the world, and it’s also thought to contribute to major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and cancer. What’s more, coronavirus and the resulting lockdown led to a drastic increase in mental health conditions due to isolation and the anxiety and fear-driven by the global pandemic. Our own experiences were locked down and since a national alliance has launched promoting mental health concerns.
Companies operating within the behavioral and mental health markets can partner with campaigns to reach as many real people as possible. Seeing an ad in print, online or on-screen can make all the difference to a person who’s struggling with mental health issues.
The Power to Influence Others’ Experiences
Mental illness often makes people feel lonely and removed from the rest of society. A campaign aimed at helping people access mental health services can counter this barrier to seeking professional help by outlining successful mental health journeys and offering reassurance about treatment. What’re more, prominent campaigns help people spot the warning signs of mental illness and provide experts with an opportunity to send out key messages to the public.
As such, it’s clear to see why campaigners and mental health treatment providers have a shared vision and goal. By working together, you can strengthen your marketing efforts, educate people on mental health and reach more people who need help with mental health conditions.
Why Target Young People?
As young people are suffering from higher rates of drug addiction and poor mental health, it makes sense to target them. Plus, according to The Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey, these core demographics are aligning spending with their values and believe they have the power to drive change on social issues.
This altruistic approach to capitalism has prompted many companies to reassess their business models, placing core values and a mission statement front and center of operations. Many companies are partnering with charities and campaign groups that resonate with their target audiences.
Working with a brand or an organization on a campaign for subjects such as promoting well-being among young people, raising awareness about suicide or promoting the importance of talk therapy doesn’t just strengthen your brand, you can also use it as a marketing tool. Ultimately, ending the mental health stigma around mental illness means your recovery-focused company can change more lives by helping more people.
Let’s take a look at some campaigns established to raise awareness of mental health issues and help people recognize symptoms associated with mental ill-health.
Successful Mental Health Awareness Campaign Ideas
In the past couple of decades, a major drive to end discrimination in workplaces, families and communities regarding mental health has taken place. Traditionally, seeking treatment for mental illness was seen as the reserve of the seriously mentally ill.
Low mood, anxiety and depression were viewed as states people should be able to shake themselves out of. Attitudes have changed considerably as data has demonstrated to governments that people suffering from these conditions are more prone to unemployment, underachievement and even suicide. By encouraging people to discuss mental health and seek the support they need, society as a whole benefit.
Let’s take a look at some of the most successful mental health campaigns aimed at increasing awareness about the impact of mental illness on an individual, family, community and society.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is overseen by the WHO and aimed at increasing mental health awareness on a global scale. It affords all stakeholders in the mental health sphere an opportunity to talk about what they do, suggests ideas about what else we can do to improve provisions and mobilize resources and efforts in the right direction.
Good news: At the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the globe agreed quality mental health services require urgent attention at all levels. The 2021 goal of World Mental Health Day is to demonstrate that everyone can benefit from mental health care at some stage in their lives.
Global Mental Health Awareness Week
The Mental Health Foundation coordinates Mental Health Awareness Week, which chooses a specific theme each year to help increase awareness. In 2021, the mission is to let people know about the essential connection between mental health and nature and the crucial role the latter plays in living healthily. Spending time outdoors offers a unique opportunity to destress, be mindful and enjoy the beauty of the world we live in. The branding of this campaign is bright, fun and likely to appeal to young people.
Mental Health America: Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health America was a pioneer in raising mental health awareness and began observing May as Mental Health Awareness Month all the way back in 1949. In 2021, the theme for mental health month was Tools 2 Thrive: an initiative to provide the general public with practical, actionable tools to help people build resilience and improve mental health.
The website has tons of mental health resources that anyone can use, regardless of whether they consider themselves as having a mental illness. Some of the topics they provide handouts on include:
- Accepting reality
- Dealing with anger and frustration
- Processing big changes
- Radical acceptance
- Getting out of thinking traps
Demonstrate Support of Mental Health Problems to the General Public
Let Lead to Recovery, the best mental health marketing agency help you reach more potential clients by improving your website, helping connect you to relevant organizations and creating mental health content that gets you noticed. Call us today at 855-876-7238 for more information about the services we provide behavioral and mental health practitioners.
Reviewed by:
Matthew Travers
Rehab Marketing Expert
