Normalizing mental health problems among young people

Obertament has launched the "It's Not My Fault" campaign to encourage Generation Z to speak openly about mental health. The pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems for everyone. In 2021, Obertament targeted its "I'm Not Okay Either" campaign at the general population, but now, with more information, it's clear that young people have been the most affected by the pandemic, which is why the campaign aims to focus on this group.

The aim of the campaign is to overcome the stigma barrier so that mental health problems can be normalized and people can ask for help when they need it.

The protagonists of this campaign, like all those of the organization, are activists , young people who have gone through a mental health problem, overcome it and offer their testimony to help have these much necessary conversations.

The campaign consists of a visual, an advertisement, a radio spot, and a specific digital strategy. Three roundtables, called Sense Culpa Talks, were organized with various national influencers (Candela Antón, Sergio Carvajal, Eva Castt, Melo Moreno, Selene Medel, Yaiza Sanz) and activists (Adriana Aparici, Manel Atserias, Nuria Sanz, Eiden Andreu, Andrea Gracia, Marc Darriba, Guillem Lloret, Sofia Lechuga). These talks addressed diverse topics related to education, the workplace, stereotypes, media, and culture.

“We still don’t equate mental health with physical health. That’s why it’s so important to create these spaces for conversation where we can destigmatize it and where politicians recognize that the public is demanding this as one of the main issues to resolve at a social, health, and economic level,” says Lucas Loren, an influencer and communicator who moderated the roundtables. “The main problem is that the stigma prevents you from making your mental health one of your life priorities,” he adds.

All these talks can be found at noesculpameva.cat , and there is also a space where anyone can express themselves openly, resources on where to ask for help, advice on how to address the issue of mental health, etc.

Mariona Batalla, a multidisciplinary artist and contributor to the program Els Experts d'iCat, moderated another roundtable discussion with the stars of the advertisement: Andrea Gracia, Guillem Lloret, Sofia Lechuga, and Marc Darriba, which kicked off the campaign. "After years of dealing with a mental health disorder and hiding it, there comes a point when you empower yourself. I got tired of hiding and having to be someone else just so as not to bother or disrupt other people's lives. I realized that if I didn't move forward, my life would end, and for me, 'moving forward' means talking about what's happening to me and expressing myself freely," explained activist Andrea Gracia at the event.

"We still don't equate mental health with physical health. That's why it's so important to create these spaces for conversation where we can destigmatize it and where politicians appreciate that citizens are demanding this as one of the main issues to resolve at a social, health, and economic level," said Lucas Loren, influencer and communicator.

On the other hand, Obertament has devised the Mental Health Barometer , a tool through which the following question has been posed: Do you think we have been openly educated about (our) mental health? The survey will remain open until the end of March so that all citizens can register their response.

Mental health remains a taboo subject, and many people with mental health disorders face discrimination in all aspects of their lives. Obertament is a collaborative effort that aims to encompass the work done by numerous organizations and individuals, facilitate the generation and dissemination of knowledge, and, through social marketing and firsthand experience, work to change attitudes and behaviors toward people with mental health conditions.

The Obertament association was founded in 2010 by the main social agents of mental health in Catalonia, with the aim of fighting against the stigma and discrimination suffered by people with some mental health problem, ensuring that they are the protagonists of change.

Go to noesculpameva.cat and check out the roundtables, find resources, reflect on how you feel, or express what you need.