- Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
Media Contact for Department of Mental Health Launches New Public Awareness Campaign, Isaac’s Story, during Children’s Mental Health Week
Daniela Trammell, Director of Communications and Community Engagement
Boston — The Department of Mental Health today launched a new public awareness campaign geared at children to begin the conversation about mental health during an event at the Sarah Greenwood School in Dorchester as part of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
“Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story” is a comprehensive campaign for elementary school-aged children featuring a video and illustrated book to help destigmatize and reframe how students talk about mental health. Teachers will also receive a host of resources to encourage discussion in the classroom.
The campaign highlights a conversation between two classmates about the “different kinds of hurting." One student goes to an emergency room for a fall. The other student explains that he went to a “different kind of hospital” –one that helps when thoughts and feelings are hurting. As both students explain their experiences they realize that physical and mental health aren’t all that different – both require sharing your feelings to help the healing.
Materials will also be shared with families to continue the conversation at home, as well as pediatricians, child therapists, church groups, youth organizations, fraternal organizations and civic groups throughout Massachusetts.
The book and discussion guides will be promoted through mass media, YouTube and Facebook. The hashtag #ItsOk will be used on social media to spread the word about the campaign.
For additional information, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health at (617) 626-8000 or visit www.mass.gov/isaacs-story.
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