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

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…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

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

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%…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

Instagram and TikTok Stars Join Seize the Awkward to Help Young Adults Maneuver Life Changes and the Continued Fallout of COVID-19

In support of National Suicide Prevention Month, World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th), and as many young adults re-enter the classroom and workplace, Seize the Awkward is launching a partnership initiative to equip young people with the resources and encouragement to reach out to a friend about mental health. A joint effort between the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Jed Foundation (JED), the Ad Council, and creative agency Droga5, the national award-winning campaign informs teens and young adults of the importance of supporting the mental well-being of themselves and…

Read More