#BeKindBeTheDifference Contest Held in Honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month
Prize Includes Pair of Tickets to Hit Broadway Show Dear Evan Hansen, VIP Backstage Meet and Greet with Cast + Dinner with BTWF President Cynthia Germanotta
April 30, 2018 – In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing announced the launch today of #BeKindBeTheDifference – a contest to encourage people to get trained in Mental Health First Aid. The groundbreaking and evidence-backed program that teaches people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges and crises.
#BeKindBeTheDifference calls on members of the public to pledge to get trained in Mental Health First Aid. The information and tools the program provides is critical for every American to know as one in five adults in the country live with a mental illness. Effectively supporting these individuals – who are friends, family members, and coworkers – is vital to the wellbeing of our communities.
Those who take the pledge – and register for an upcoming training – will be entered to win. One lucky pledge taker will receive a pair of tickets to the hit Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen (a Born This Way Foundation partner), a VIP meet and greet with the cast backstage following the show, and dinner with Cynthia Germanotta, President of Born This Way Foundation which she co-founded with her daughter Lady Gaga. Flight and accommodation costs for the winner and their guest will also be covered.
“Mental health is an urgent issue that affects nearly every family in every community – including mine,” said Cynthia Germanotta, President and Co-Founder of Born This Way Foundation. “I’ve been trained in Mental Health First Aid, so I know what a powerful tool it is. It made me feel so much more confident that I could help someone experiencing a mental health issue and I want to call on everyone to join me in becoming a Mental Health First Aider.”
More than one million people across the United States have been trained in Mental Health First Aid to date, including 150,000 during Lady Gaga’s recent Joanne World Tour. First Aiders include everyone from police officers, teachers and employers to Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The eight-hour course is offered around the country and includes special courses for public safety officers, teachers, employers, youth, military members and veterans, older adults and foster families. For more information about Mental Health First Aid, or to find a course near you, visit www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org.
“Mental Health First Aid is a simple training that everyone can take to learn more about mental illness and addiction, what treatments are available, and what they can do to support someone who may be in distress,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation to spread the Mental Health First Aid movement to even more people.”
To be eligible to win, participants must take the pledge by midnight PST on May 31, 2018 and, if selected, submit proof that they have registered for an upcoming Mental Health First Aid Course.
About Born This Way Foundation
Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2012 to support the wellness of young people and empower them to create a kinder and braver world. To achieve these goals, Born This Way Foundation leverages evidence-based research and authentic partnerships in order to provide young people with kinder communities, improved mental health resources, and more positive environments – online and offline. Learn more at bornthisway.foundation.
About The National Council for Mental Wellbeing
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 2,900 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council helped introduce Mental Health First Aid USA and more than 1 million Americans have been trained. For more information, visit www.TheNationalCouncil.org.
CONTACT:
Aaron Cohen (AaronCohenPR@gmail.com)
Rachel Martin (Rachel@BornThisWay.Foundation)
