Family Centre Launches New Campaign
Family Centre is launching an island-wide campaign – “Real Talk: It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” — to promote mental health awareness.
A spokesperson said, “Today, Family Centre hosted a press conference at Sunshine League House to officially launch its adolescent-focused anti-stigma campaign. This initiative forms part of a broader, collective effort to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma across Bermuda.”
Dr. Sandy De Silva, Executive Director of Family Centre, explained: “This island-wide campaign is being delivered through a robust multimedia strategy running throughout May, in alignment with Mental Health Awareness Month.
“This campaign is a direct response to local adolescent mental health research conducted in 2022 by Dr. Daniel Cavanagh, which surveyed approximately 76% of Bermuda’s youth population across public and private schools.
Kathryn Kelly, President & CEO, RBK Advertising + Design; Kim Wilson, JP, MP, Minister of Health; Dr. Sandy De Silva, Executive Director, Family Centre; Jody Feldman, Managing Director of Bermuda, Butterfield and Dejonae Davis, Youth Advisory Board
“Two key findings were particularly concerning: many adolescents perceive seeking mental health support as a sign of weakness or failure; and youth aged 10-18 in Bermuda report symptoms of anxiety and depression at rates 5–6% higher than global averages.”
Dr. De Silva added, “Through our work with young people and in collaboration with other youth serving agencies, we are seeing increasing complexity in presenting concerns, including self-harm, suicide attempts, and heightened social aggression. These challenges are often compounded by social pressures, stigma, and unaddressed multigenerational trauma which can discourage help-seeking and result in young people suffering in silence.”
A spokesperson added, “The Real Talk: It’s Okay To Not Be Okay campaign features a 60-second animated video and radio advertisement created by local artists specifically for Bermuda’s youth. The campaign is being delivered across multimedia platforms and in public spaces frequently accessed by young people and their caregivers.
“The campaign aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental health, increase awareness, and address barriers to seeking support. It also seeks to correct common misconceptions and promote mental wellness as a vital component of overall health.”
Jody Feldman, Butterfield’s Managing Director in Bermuda, explained, “Butterfield is proud to partner with Family Centre to bring this important message to Bermuda. The findings from the local Adolescent Mental Health Research were impactful, and Butterfield remains committed to supporting the overall well-being of our community. Having access to a free mental health resource like Family Centre helps to improve family lives’ in Bermuda and this campaign helps to raise awareness for our young people.”
RBK Advertising & Design, a long-standing partner of Family Centre’s social awareness campaigns, was proud to contribute its expertise to this youth-focused initiative.
Kathryn Kelly, President & CEO at RBK said, “We’re proud to support Family Centre in creating a campaign that helps to ensure that young people in Bermuda feel seen, heard and supported. By collaborating with Bermudian animator, Domico Watson, and local voice talent, Brandon Redman, we aimed to create something authentic and relatable that truly resonates with Bermuda’s youth and encourages them to seek support when needed.”
A spokesperson added, “The campaign is already reaching young people through public spaces, social media, and school assemblies. Visit https://tfc.bm/realtalk to view the campaign and access resources for parents and youth.
“Family Centre firmly believes that meaningful change requires collective action. We are grateful for the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to advance mental health awareness island-wide and look forward to continued collaboration to strengthen outcomes for Bermuda’s children and families.”
A very worthy campaign… and not just for our youth but also for some of the adults in our community as well. Life has become very stressful and we can all use support.