Hope Means Nevada, Anthem Host #Ask5 to Smash Stress Social Media Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hope Means Nevada, Anthem Host
#Ask5 to Smash Stress
Social Media Campaign During Stress Awareness Month

The Four-Week Campaign from April 2 – 29 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Will Focus on Reaching Teens to Improve Mental Health Outcomes

Click Here for Downloadable Photos, Video

LAS VEGAS (March 21, 2023) – Hope Means Nevada (HMN), the community-based nonprofit focused on eliminating youth suicide across Nevada, has announced the third annual launch of its #Ask5 to Smash Stress social media campaign. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a leading provider of managed healthcare services in Nevada, is this year’s campaign sponsor and will jointly host the campaign between Sunday, April 2 and Saturday April 29, in recognition of National Stress Awareness Month. The campaign will be accessible on HMN’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites.

“Anthem has made a commitment to addressing Nevada’s most pressing healthcare priorities, and we are aware of our state’s challenges related to youth mental health, so we are stepping up to create and support innovative solutions that have the potential to make a positive, meaningful difference in health outcomes,” said Lisa Bogard, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Nevada Medicaid health plan. “We are pleased to align with Hope Means Nevada in this effort and expect the #Ask5 to Smash Stress campaign to have a tremendous impact on lives.”

#Ask5 to Smash Stress is a peer-to-peer social media campaign that focuses on encouraging teens to connect with their peers and raise awareness that could improve mental wellness and even save lives. Throughout the month, this campaign encourages teens to #Ask5 of their friends how they are doing and provide actionable techniques to foster mental health wellness. The teens will be encouraged to log onto social media daily to learn about stress-relieving strategies, including how to achieve balance between life and school, mindful eating and healthy body image, fostering healthy relationships, finding a therapist who is the right fit and more. Mental wellness tips and meaningful discussions will be shared on the social media platforms via daily live presentations and short videos.

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:

• Week 1, April 2 – 8: School/Life Balance
• Week 2, April 9 – 15: Normalize Normal Bodies
• Week 3, April 16 – 22: Relationships
• Week 4, April 23 – 29: Therapy is Cool

The campaign will also feature different challenges to encourage teens to engage with the campaign and share information with their peers. Challenges will include:

• Asking five friends to join in watching #Ask5 to Smash Stress daily live-streams and videos.
• Sharing #Ask5 to Smash Stress topics and tips with family and/or friends.

“We’re grateful to Anthem for its continued support of our annual campaign to combat stress among youth,” said Ciera Bellavance, executive director, Hope Means Nevada. “The topics and tools we will be illuminating throughout the month are critically important and could even save lives.”

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
Media representatives are invited to interview mental health professionals and subject matter experts from Hope Means Nevada, Anthem and local organizations to learn more about this effort as well as other resources that are being made available, 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 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.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada
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/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Thill / Erika Pope
The Vox Agency
Phone: (469) 226-4723 or (702) 249-2977
Email: vanessa@thevoxagency.com or erika@thevoxagency.com

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