Tag: Seize the Awkward

New PSAs Highlight the Power of Connection to Combat Isolation

Stuart Mitchell

The “Seize the Awkward” campaign, a partnership between the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Ad Council, recently announced new public service advertisements (PSAs) encouraging teens and young adults to check in with their friends. Ad Council research finds that teens and young adults crave connection and emotional support, but many struggle to express that need – which can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The new PSAs, “Let’s Be Real,” show that small, intentional moments of connection can make…

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Former “Dance Moms” Star Nia Sioux Highlights Mental Health with “Seize the Awkward” in Directorial Debut

Stuart Mitchell

The national “Seize the Awkward” campaign premiered a new digital content series recently starring and directed by actress, activist, and creator Nia Sioux. The “Capture the Convo” series marks the former “Dance Moms” star and executive producer’s debut as creative director. By featuring intimate conversations between friends, the series inspires teens and young adults to normalize talking about mental health with their peers. In the seven-part “Capture the Convo” video series, Sioux joins her friends to model safe conversations about mental health and discuss their real experiences checking in with…

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Megan Thee Stallion Says “Check In On Your Friends” in New PSA with Seize the Awkward

Stuart Mitchell

Seize the Awkward, a national campaign that inspires and prepares young adults (ages 16-24) to talk about mental health with their friends, spotlights three-time Grammy-winning superstar, entrepreneur and philanthropist Megan Thee Stallion in a new public service advertisement (PSA), “Check In On Your Friends,” which launched recently. In the latest PSA from the award-winning campaign from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and The Jed Foundation (JED) in collaboration with the Ad Council and Droga5, Megan gets real about the pressures to be strong and the importance of peer-to-peer…

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New Mental Health PSA from Seize the Awkward Encourages Young Adults to Say “We Can Talk About It”

Stuart Mitchell

The national Seize the Awkward campaign has released new Public Service Advertisements (PSAs), “We Can Talk About It,” to inspire young adults (16–24) to start conversations around mental health with friends. The award-winning communications program, a joint effort from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and The Jed Foundation (JED) in collaboration with the Ad Council, promotes mental wellness to reduce the risk and rate of suicide among young adults. According to new data from the CDC, the suicide rate among young people aged 15 to 24 rose 8%…

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USC Quarterback Caleb Williams Teams Up with National “Seize the Awkward” Campaign to Support Young Adults’ Mental Health

Stuart Mitchell

The Seize the Awkward campaign released a new public service advertisement (PSA) featuring star quarterback Caleb Williams encouraging young people to check in with their peers and have open conversations about their mental health. The campaign— from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and The Jed Foundation (JED) in collaboration with the Ad Council —worked with the Caleb Cares Foundation and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of California (USC) to develop the student-produced video. In times of crisis, three in four young adults turn…

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