American Public Media Launches New Mental Health Initiative: Call to Mind

Apr 26, 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 26, 2018 – Coinciding with National Mental Health Month, American Public Media will launch the APM Mental Health Initiative – Call to Mind – in May. Call to Mind is a new five-year initiative created with the intent to inform and mobilize new conversations about mental health.

Call to Mind will initiate awareness and understanding through partnerships and leveraging of APM’s media platforms. The aim is twofold: activate and amplify public conversation by bringing people together and establishing a platform for change. Such a platform will bring potential for change for individuals, communities, educators, employers and health care systems, and will inform policy discussions.

In November 2017, APM named Babette Apland as the managing director of the new national undertaking, which is funded by the MPR | APM Inspired by You capital campaign and individual supporters.

“Mental health and wellbeing are important aspects of everyone’s life and all of us experience various levels of mental wellbeing throughout our life. Yet we are still stymied by a lack of understanding that leads to prejudice and discrimination,” said Apland. “Our goal is to open the minds and engage the hearts of Minnesotans and the American public about mental health and its central importance to individuals and communities.”

In effort to expand focus on mental health coverage, MPR News will have a dedicated mental health reporter in place to increase both the volume and diversity of mental health coverage on-air and online. This expanded coverage will begin in the summer of 2018.

Call to Mind will extend beyond current public radio listeners in efforts to engage new audiences with both live events and opportunities to participate online. During the month of May, MPR’s regional services will weave mental health-themed on-air programming and presence, digital activity and live events with local partnerships.

  • MPR Presents: An Evening with Lulu Miller at the Fitzgerald Theater – Lulu Miller, Peabody Award-winner and former co-host of the NPR program Invisibilia, interweaves personal stories and fascinating new psychological and brain science in a way makes you see your own life differently. Miller covers stories that challenge our assumptions about how the human organism works. Date: Friday, May 4, 8:00 p.m. Ticket information available here.  

  • Call to Mind Presents Voices of Minnesotans – MPR News will run vignettes at the top and bottom of programs featuring the mental health stories of real people. Dates: Throughout May, beginning Friday, May 4

  • Your Classical Story Partnership – Classical MPR provides a collection of Your Classical story submissions aligned with mental health themes on Classical MPR and Classical 24. Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays throughout May, beginning Monday, May 7

  • Note to Self at The Science Museum of Minnesota – A fun evening of music with Manchita and conversation about innovative ways to care for your mental wellbeing. MPR News’ Tom Weber will host a recorded discussion with influential leaders in the field of mental health. Join them in conversation about taking control of mental wellbeing through innovative approaches like nutrition, mindfulness, and digital tools. Discover more about the role of community and culture in mental health. Attendees will be able to visit the Science Museum’s exhibit “Mental Health: Mind Matters” after the discussion. Date: Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 p.m. This is event is not ticketed, but a reservation is requested. Reservation information available here.

  • Online – Beginning May 3, social media participation in Call to Mind is possible via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by visiting @CallToMindNow and using the hashtag #CallToMind. Call to Mind’s website will also launch this day at calltomindnow.org.

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About American Public Media  
American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.