Saint Louis Story Stitchers to Think Big for Kids! with YouthBridge Community Foundation Grant

ST. LOUIS - June 20, 2023 - PRLog -- Through a $120,000, two-year, Think Big for Kids grant from YouthBridge Community Foundation, Story Stitchers is creating a series of public service announcements (PSAs) to help change the stigma around mental health care and provide information on accessing it.

Youthbridge newsletter article https://youthbridge.org/think-big-for-kids-grant-recipient-saint-louis-story-stitchers/

JUNE 2023-MAY 2025

Perception Isn't Always Reality: Mental Health will reduce stigma of mental health care among Black youth in St. Louis City and County through the creation and dissemination of a public service announcement (PSA) campaign. The 24-month project will be led by 10 Black youth (ages 16-24) and 10 adult artist-mentors of color working in collaboration with health experts; community residents; and marketing, media, and communication professionals. https://storystitchers.org/perception-isnt-always-reality-mental-health/

CALL FOR YOUTH ARTISTS: September 15, 2023

Ten young artists, (ages 16-24) will be selected for the project through interview, audition, and references, and may receive $1,400 each over the project period.

The resulting fact-based, peer-to-peer messaging will reach a wide audience through billboards and public transportation ads in North St. Louis City and County and social media and radio ads through the greater region. Youth are viewed as trusted messengers, driving regional change in knowledge and attitudes on mental illness and accessing mental health care.

Socioeconomic status and mental health are intrinsically connected; improvement in one enables improvement in the other. This innovative PSA project can be easily replicated to tackle stigma, misinformation, and distrust contributing to many other problems facing youth.

We envision a world where young voices lift to affect change in their cities. Our body of work focuses on gun violence prevention and topics related to public health issues including stigmas around mental health, boosting Covid-19 vaccine confidence, and reducing unintentional shootings involving children. Youth and artists of color work collaboratively to collect stories from St. Louisans living in communities plagued by these public health crises, reframing and retelling through an artistic lens.

"Perception Isn't Always Reality: Mental Health" will reduce stigmas related to accessing mental health care and people in need of mental and behavioral health care. Our strategy focuses on creative youth development, youth leadership, and youth mentoring through a collaborative arts model. The program provides a unique path for Black youth to combine their knowledge and vision in collaboration with healthcare and marketing professionals to positively impact their own communities.