FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOPE MEANS NEVADA, ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD TO HOST
STRESS AWARENESS MONTH CAMPAIGN IN APRIL
Four-Week Social Media Campaign from April 1 – 30 to Improve Overall Teen
Mental Wellness
Click Here for Downloadable, High-Res Photos
LAS VEGAS (April 2025) – Hope Means Nevada (HMN), the community-based nonprofit focused on mental wellness and eliminating youth suicide across Nevada, announces it will launch its fifth annual #Ask5 to Smash Stress social media campaign. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a leading provider of managed healthcare services in Nevada, returns as this year’s campaign sponsor and will jointly host the campaign between Tuesday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 30, in recognition of National Stress Awareness Month. The campaign will be accessible on HMN’s Facebook, X and Instagram pages.
#Ask5 to Smash Stress is a peer-to-peer social media campaign focusing on encouraging teens to connect with each other to raise awareness of resources that could improve mental health and even save lives. Throughout the month, this campaign will encourage teens to #Ask5 of their friends how they are doing and provide actionable techniques to foster mental wellness.
The need for teen-focused mental wellness campaigns has never been more urgent. In Nevada, suicide is the leading cause of death for youth ages 12 to 19, and for every teen who dies by suicide, it is estimated that 100 to 200 teens have attempted. On a national level, 44% of teens report feeling persistently sad and hopeless—up from 37% in 2019 and the highest level ever recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on the above statistics, click here.
Teens will be encouraged to log onto social media daily to learn about a variety of subjects. This year, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Glory Finnegan will offer expert mental wellness tips. Local yoga teachers and meditation experts Lauren Salgado and Dani Kilpatrick will also share video content about how to destress. Sean Tory of King of Jewels, a local youth mentorship program, will also share video content about what it means to give yourself grace. Taryn Ashley, Mrs. Henderson 2024, and Adia Perea, Miss Teen Henderson 2024, will also partner with HMN to deliver powerful messages about how to overcome anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide.
For the fourth year, former professional football cheerleader Kristina Cullinane and her sister Rachel will return with a presentation to help teens understand grief and loss. Professional boxer Paul Spadafora will also discuss his challenges and triumphs in managing his own mental wellness. Prominent social media influencers, including Lily Kate and Madeline Scribbles, will also engage in meaningful conversations with HMN and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Each week, the #Ask5 to Smash Stress campaign will focus on a different theme and topic to raise awareness about how to effectively alleviate stress:
The campaign will also feature different challenges to encourage teens to engage with the campaign and share information with their peers. Challenges will include:
“As we mark the fifth year of our #Ask5 to Smash Stress campaign, we remain committed to creating a culture where teens feel seen, heard and supported,” said Janna Velasco, executive director, Hope Means Nevada. “This campaign continues to evolve with the voices of Nevada’s youth at the forefront—empowering them to take action for their mental wellness and reminding them they’re never alone in their struggles.”
In addition to the social media campaign for Stress Awareness Month, Hope Means Nevada will also host Stress Release for a Hopeful Mind on Sunday, April 13 at NAMI Southern Nevada. This teen-focused workshop will be dedicated to managing stress, easing anxiety and fostering resilience. Mental health experts will teach attendees various techniques to help them pause, reflect and rise above stress. Click the following link to register for the event, https://secure.givelively.org/event/nevada-medical-center-inc/stress-release-for-a-hopeful-mind.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
Media are invited to interview mental health professionals and subject matter experts from Hope Means Nevada, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and local organizations to learn more about this effort and other available resources so they can be shared with audiences to influence positive action and strengthen communities. To schedule a phone, Zoom or on-air interview, please contact Vanessa Thill at vanessa@thevoxagency.com.
ABOUT ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada helps improve healthcare access and quality for more than 650,000 Nevadans by developing innovative care management programs and services. Anthem’s top priority is the health and well-being of its members and enabling access to comprehensive healthcare. Through health education and community outreach programs, members are empowered to choose and sustain a healthy lifestyle. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Care Health Plan of Nevada, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. To learn more, visit www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS_news or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnthemMedicaid/.
ABOUT HOPE MEANS NEVADA
Hope Means Nevada’s (HMN) mission is to eliminate teen suicide and empower Nevada’s youth to live hopeful lives. As one of the most trusted and visible mental health resources in the state, HMN inspires a culture of empathy and advocacy around mental health. While raising awareness around Nevada’s high rates of mental health challenges, the organization strives to amplify hope and connect youth with desperately needed resources. Through collaborative, compassionate, inclusive and impactful efforts, the community-based initiative envisions a suicide-free Nevada. For more information about Hope Means Nevada, go to www.hopemeansnevada.org and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The new National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is now three-digit dialing code 988. Those experiencing a mental health emergency can also text “Home” to 741741 to reach the National Crisis Text Line.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Vanessa Thill/ Erika Pope
The Vox Agency
vanessa@thevoxagency.com, erika@thevoxagency.com
(469) 226-4723, (702) 249-2977
# # #
Posted By
Vox Interns
Categories
Community & Non-Profit, Newsroom