Isolation, stress due to shutdowns, virtual learning, and more have strained the mental health of our young people. Now we’re facing a youth mental health crisis. Rescue Agency is working with public health departments across the country to urgently address these mental health challenges by exploring the intersections between mental health and various health behaviors.
In our research with Oklahoma teens, we found that many aren’t aware of how their food choices impact how they feel. We created a new ad called “Mood Food” with the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) as part of our Swap Up campaign to show teens that eating sugary and processed foods is linked to feeling more moody, anxious or depressed. To ensure the ad features relatable scenarios, we produced different versions for urban and rural teens.
Watch: "Feeling Moody?"
Watch: "Junk Food Can Make Ya Sad"
We also developed a new message package called “Off” as part of our ready-made vaping prevention campaign, Behind the Haze, to explain how vaping nicotine can make feelings of anxiety even worse. We focus on the science behind how nicotine messes with the natural balance of neurotransmitters in their brains, like dopamine and serotonin, and connect this disruption to their experience of feeling off, low or on-edge.
Watch: "Off"
If you have any questions about partnering with us for your next public health campaign, please don’t hesitate to contact us.