Sinclair Broadcast Group will partner with The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to launch Sinclair Cares: Mental Health Support + Hope, a campaign to encourage mental health awareness, with a focus on young adults.
The campaign will begin on March 6 and run throughout the month.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness through advocacy, education, support and public awareness.
Sinclair Cares: Mental Health Support + Hope will be supported through public service campaigns across Sinclair’s television stations and Tennis Channel network.
“A recent study conducted by NAMI found 1 in 4 teens have been diagnosed with a mental health condition,” said Rob Weisbord, chief operating officer and president of broadcast for Sinclair. “Our hope is by opening the dialogue around mental health, we can challenge assumptions and eradicate the stigma of seeking help, potentially saving lives.”
In partnership with NAMI, Sinclair stations will be producing content to air within their newscasts, while helping to connect viewers with local NAMI affiliates for resources and information.
In addition, Sinclair will produce a Town Hall special, hosted by WKRC health reporter Liz Bonis to air across Sinclair’s television stations and stream on their respective sites.
Sinclair stations will also feature interviews with NAMI chief medical officer Ken Duckworth, M.D., author of You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health ― With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families.
“A mental health crisis that was already at alarming levels, particularly among young people, has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NAMI ceo Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. “NAMI is grateful to partners like Sinclair Broadcast Group that will help raise awareness on a national scale around issues like the importance of getting care early in life.”
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