The Jed Foundation

New York, NY – October 13, 2009 –  As part of the Peabody Award-winning “Half of Us” campaign, mtvU and The Jed Foundation unveiled new on-air and online content to educate and empower students to help friends who may be struggling emotionally. New additions to the campaign include three public service announcements that depict situations where students are being proactive in supporting friends who may be facing mental health issues, and programming that provides student and expert commentary on common emotional challenges faced by students:

• Getting Low (public service announcement): A dramatic spot that emphasizes the importance of being attentive and supportive to friends who are struggling or have a diagnosed condition and emphasizes that sometimes just “being there” is an important step.
  

• Face Time (public service announcement): This spot focuses on the opportunities we have to spot potential warning signs in a friend.  In this situation, it is status updates on Facebook that lead the main character to be concerned.  It also shows a friend being assertive about wanting to help and not taking “I’m fine” for an answer.
  

• Subtext (public service announcement): This spot shows a realistic intervention between two male friends.  The friend who is struggling with mental health issues is defensive and uses typical excuses for his behavior, but on-screen text shows the “subtext” of what is really going on.
  

• What Would You Do? (video feature):A piece that students what they would do if they had a friend exhibiting behavior/symptoms that are common to mental health issues (not getting out of bed, excessive spending, etc.).  An expert from NYU provides professional narrative and guidance.