2008 Woodie Awards
mtvU's halfofus.com campaigns for mental health awareness
Amanda Andreen
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Features
It's that time again. March is here, and that means this is the month that college students across the nation are in the spotlight with the all media eyes watching college basketball, spring breaks, relentless mid-terms and the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War, which significantly affects a great number of students and their families.
This month, however, mtvU, MTV's Emmy award-winning college network, in conjunction with The Jed Foundation, which is the nation's foremost suicide prevention nonprofit organization, are heavily promoting mtvU's "Half of Us" campaign. According to the website, the " 'Half of Us' campaign derives its name from research showing that nearly half of all college students have felt so depressed they could not function, and addresses the reality that suicide is the second leading killer of college students."
Though the "Half of Us" campaign is not new, in light of recent events nationwide, "Half of Us" is sponsoring new programs this month that are focused on stress and other emotional effects that this March in particular could have on students.
"March is a month when the nation celebrates college culture, and this year we aim to use the moment to spark a dialogue about the serious mental health issues going unaddressed on college campuses - claiming the lives of countless students each year," said Stephen Friedman, GM, mtvU. "Our special 'Half of Us' March programming is part of a year-round commitment to chipping away at the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health, as well as connecting students to the necessary resources."
The new programming offered at halfofus.com includes a feature special with Billy Corgan, the lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins, who speaks out on how his success caused memories of an abusive childhood to surface, and how accepting those issues and seeking help and available resources can help students.
Also debuting on the website on March 17, will be a discussion for Iraqi War Student Veterans, in which student soldiers from coast to coast talk about life after the war, getting back into the routine of college life and how they are coping with the challenges it brings. For this discussion, there will also be an acclaimed expert on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), who will offer advice to student soldiers and student veterans on what resources are available to them and how to get a hold of such resources.
According to the press release for this month's programs, halfofus.com is also starting an mtvU and The Associated Press Mental Health Poll. The poll specifically aims to be "an in-depth look at the impact stress and depression are having on the national college audience-particularly at this pivotal point of the semester." The poll also hopes to supply a valuable look "into how the war, starting a career, campus safety, technology, substance abuse and other factors affect college students' stress levels and mental health today-and where they are, or are not, turning for help."
This month, however, mtvU, MTV's Emmy award-winning college network, in conjunction with The Jed Foundation, which is the nation's foremost suicide prevention nonprofit organization, are heavily promoting mtvU's "Half of Us" campaign. According to the website, the " 'Half of Us' campaign derives its name from research showing that nearly half of all college students have felt so depressed they could not function, and addresses the reality that suicide is the second leading killer of college students."
Though the "Half of Us" campaign is not new, in light of recent events nationwide, "Half of Us" is sponsoring new programs this month that are focused on stress and other emotional effects that this March in particular could have on students.
"March is a month when the nation celebrates college culture, and this year we aim to use the moment to spark a dialogue about the serious mental health issues going unaddressed on college campuses - claiming the lives of countless students each year," said Stephen Friedman, GM, mtvU. "Our special 'Half of Us' March programming is part of a year-round commitment to chipping away at the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health, as well as connecting students to the necessary resources."
The new programming offered at halfofus.com includes a feature special with Billy Corgan, the lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins, who speaks out on how his success caused memories of an abusive childhood to surface, and how accepting those issues and seeking help and available resources can help students.
Also debuting on the website on March 17, will be a discussion for Iraqi War Student Veterans, in which student soldiers from coast to coast talk about life after the war, getting back into the routine of college life and how they are coping with the challenges it brings. For this discussion, there will also be an acclaimed expert on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), who will offer advice to student soldiers and student veterans on what resources are available to them and how to get a hold of such resources.
According to the press release for this month's programs, halfofus.com is also starting an mtvU and The Associated Press Mental Health Poll. The poll specifically aims to be "an in-depth look at the impact stress and depression are having on the national college audience-particularly at this pivotal point of the semester." The poll also hopes to supply a valuable look "into how the war, starting a career, campus safety, technology, substance abuse and other factors affect college students' stress levels and mental health today-and where they are, or are not, turning for help."
Be the first to comment on this story