More than 40% of Americans report that they are struggling with mental health issues as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. 31% said they’d experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression, 26% said they’d experienced trauma or stressor-related disorder symptoms, 13% said they’d started or increased substance use and 11% said they’d seriously considered suicide in the last 30 days.
So, to provide resources and help people experiencing mental health challenges due to the pandemic, the Ad Council has joined with the CDC, dentsumcgarrybowen and M8, Verizon Media’s RYOT Studio and Entercom to create COPING-19. The PSAs all drive to coping-19.org, where visitors will be able to access over 100 vetted resources in English and Spanish to help with their mental health needs. Coping-19.org will also feature a set of self-care best practices and principles in accordance with CDC and leading scientists, as well as links to more in-depth information by category. Media partners on board to support the new PSAs include Google/YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit and others.
This :30 is part of the package of PSAs introducing the public to COPING-19.
Credits
Client Ad Council/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency dentsumcgarrybowen, New York Ida Rezvani, president; Haydn Morris, managing director, executive creative director; Chris Pacetta, group creative director; Ricardo Pocci, associate creative director/art; Mark Leephaibul, associate creative director/writer; Jerry Krenach, managing director, music production; Sarah Tembeckjian, producer, music production; Laura Kirbymiller, executive producer; Kevin Murphy, associate producer, digital. Agency M8 John Santiago, CEO; Joaquin Lira, chief creative officer; Matias Blazevic, creative director; Pablo Soria, digital associate creative director; Pablo Albella, sr. art director; Alex Yofre, sr. copywriter. Postproduction Orange Slice (dentsumcgarrybowen unit) Matt Mullen, Elizabeth Hurd, editors. Music Future Perfect
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The filmโs protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a childโs life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
