Saint Louis Story Stitchers focuses on Mental Health w/Story Circles Podcasts & PSAs

ST. LOUIS - June 11, 2024 - PRLog -- Through a $121,798, two-year, Think Big for Kids grant from YouthBridge Community Foundation, Story Stitchers is creating Story Circles, podcasts, and public service announcements (PSAs) to help change the stigma around mental health.

Join Saint Louis Story Stitchers youth artists in a Story Circle to share stories of the mental health crisis and solutions. Dr. Julie J. Gary, Bureau Chief of Behavioral Health for the City of St. Louis Health Department will join us to discuss mental health and to answer your questions.

Date: June 28, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Turkish pavilion, Tower Grove Park
Free
Guest: Julie J. Gary, PhD, MPH (She/Her/Hers), Bureau Chief, Behavioral Health, City of St. Louis Health Department
https://storystitchers.org/perception-isnt-always-reality-mental-health/

Project Timeframe: 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.

Since October 2023, ten young artists, (ages 16-24) and six adult mentors have been working on the project to conduct research, develop music, and writing to be utilized in the production of the final public service announcement products with SPOT Content Studio.

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. The campaign will be launched during November to December 2024.

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.

"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.