The Campaign to Change Direction a national collective impact effort developed to change the culture of mental health in America announces a partnership with Farmacopea an independent advertising and communications firm providing cross-cultural medical/ health advertising and mental health education to the Hispanic community.

The Campaign to Change Direction encourages Americans to care for their mental well-being just as they do their physical well-being. The campaign promotes the idea that just as we can all learn the signs that may indicate someone is having a heart attack we can learn the signs that may mean someone is suffering emotionally and needs our help. The five signs of emotional suffering are: change in personality agitation withdrawal decline in personal care and hopelessness.

“While the rates for most mental disorders among Latinos are similar to that of the overall population there are additional barriers within the Hispanic community to seeking care” says Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen founder and president of Give an Hour a nonprofit serving as the backbone organization for the campaign.  Some of these barriers according to a 2014 report by the American Psychiatric Association Division of Diversity and Health Equity include language culturally appropriate services economic factors lack of awareness of resources and lack of appropriate intervention strategies. “Ensuring that our messages and materials are translated appropriately and delivered thoughtfully to our Spanish-speaking audience will enable us to reach this huge—and growing—segment of the U.S. population. We are grateful to Farmacopea for offering their expertise as we engage inspire and educate” adds Dr. Van Dahlen.

“Mental illness and emotional suffering can affect anyone—people of all ages and ethnicities” says Dr. Walter Arenzon partner and head of creative and strategy development at Farmacopea. “Educating our Spanish-speaking population in their own language is a huge step in changing the culture of how we as Americans view and respond to mental health. This is a historic endeavor and we are proud to be a part of the Campaign to Change Direction” he adds.

Change Direction calls on all Americans—whether living in a big city or a rural community working in a large corporation or a small nonprofit attending school at a college or university or serving in our armed forces—to learn the five signs and help change our understanding of mental health.

Over 115 campaign partners have already pledged their support and made commitments to educate Americans about the five signs. These partner organizations are using their unique skills and opportunities to assist in this critical initiative to change the culture of mental health. Together this collective impact effort will reach over 30 million Americans over the next five years.  Organizations and individuals who are interested in learning more or making a pledge can visit www.changedirection.org.

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About Give an Hour™

Give an Hour a nonprofit 501(c)(3) providing free mental health services to military members veterans and their families was founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen a psychologist in the Washington D.C. area. Give an Hour has been instrumental in the development of the community-based approach to address the challenges that face our nation's military community having created a successful model for harnessing skill-based volunteers eager to offer their services. Thus far the network of nearly 7000 licensed mental health professionals have provided more than 155000 hours of care and support to those in need. Give an Hour is now leading the Campaign to Change Direction a collective impact effort developed to change the culture of mental health in America. Give an Hour and its partners will address common barriers to understanding mental health and raise awareness about the signs of emotional suffering. To learn more visitwww.giveanhour.org or connected.giveanhour.org.  To learn more about the Campaign to Change Direction visit www.changedirection.org.

About Farmacopea

Farmacopea is an independent minority owned agency with the mission of promoting the culturally competent language of Hispanic health education and health related quality of life in order to end health disparities and promote better outcomes. Farmacopea Inc. founding partners Dr. Maria Luisa Toledo and Dr. Walter Arenzon are bi-cultural and bi-lingual health communications experts specializing in disease awareness health and prevention education behavior change communication strategies. Farmacopea produces culturally-competent translation/adaptation of health content in a consumer friendly educational level for effective engagement. Farmacopea Inc.'s main focus is to provide true culturally sensitive content for health and wellness creating it exclusively in-language for the Hispanic/Latino audience. To learn more please visit www.farmacopeainc.com.