MTV Entertainment Group has just announced its new multi-year initiative centered around addressing the country’s mental health crisis. The Mental Health is Health campaign aims to destigmatize the conversation around mental health and create a cultural shift in how we approach the topic.
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Using storytelling as a way to continue the conversation around mental health and further perpetuate having open conversations around mental health, MTV has committed to doubling the mental health-related topics across all 100 of their television shows.
MTV will work with the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative to verify that all portrayals of mental health scenarios are authentic and meaningful.
In a recent study, MTV discovered that 92% of adult viewers feel that mental health topics should be part of the storyline. But during a 2019 study the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that “only 7 percent of TV characters in the top 100 top-rated TV shows experience a mental health condition, many of which are not positive,” Variety reports.
President of MTV Entertainment, Chris McCarthy, shared in a recent statement, “We all know the power of storytelling and how narrative can frame the way we look at an issue, which is why we’re doing our part to reimagine the role that content can play to demystify and de-stigmatize mental health because it’s a crisis that’s rapidly on the rise and not enough people are talking about.”
He added, “The sooner we all start to realize that it’s something that impacts all of us, we can begin to help ourselves and others; it’s really about creating a bigger conversation that leads to systematic change that becomes the norm and I’m confident that we can help spark this change.”
MTV has seen the success of previous campaigns and TV shows that have covered real-life topics. After MTV launched “Get Yourself Tested,” the campaign helped increase STD testing number 51%. And the docuseries, 16 & Pregnant helped drive down nationwide teen births.
WATCH MORE: Katy Perry On Depression and Mental Health
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255
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