Advertising mental health services and tools in schools
This project, conducted as part of a psychology class, focused on creating an engaging flyer to promote mental health awareness within school environments.
By leveraging comprehensive research, the design and content were specifically tailored to resonate with key stakeholders: students, educators, and parents. The research helped ensure that the messaging was not only relevant but also impactful, aiming to foster a supportive and informed community around mental health issues in schools.
OBJECTIVE
To raise awareness about mental health issues within schools through a well-researched and effectively designed informational flyer.
PROJECT SCOPE
Develop a flyer as part of a psychology class exercise, conduct market research to identify effective messaging strategies.
TOOLS
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Perplexity.
The design approach for this assignment focuses on providing hope and encouragement to students facing various mental health challenges. By using positive imagery and impactful messages, the design aims to:
Normalize Mental Health Issues
Encourage Action
Break Down Barriers
Support and Resources
Positive images, colors, and results
The decision to use positive images and colors when discussing health problems can significantly enhance psychological outcomes.
Positive visuals inspire hope and optimism, crucial for those dealing with health issues, and can reduce anxiety and stress associated with medical information. They also improve engagement, making it easier for individuals to absorb and retain important health information.
Additionally, seeing successful management of health conditions can motivate positive behavioral changes, encouraging adherence to treatment plans and healthy lifestyle choices.
Use of Celebrity images – Halo Effect
Halo Effect is a cognitive bias where our overall impression of a person influences how we feel and think about their character. In the case of celebrities, their perceived positive attributes (talent, or success) create a “halo” that extends to the ideas they endorse. As a result, people are more likely to believe that the endorsed idea is good because they associate the positive qualities of the celebrity with it.
Their influence can be powerful because:
Soft Yellow and Orange: Depression.
Yellow and orange are colors of hope and positivity. They can lift spirits and create a sense of warmth and optimism. Using these colors can provide a subtle boost of positivity, helping students to feel more hopeful and uplifted when facing depression.
Purple: Stigma and Shame.
Purple represents strength, empowerment, and courage. It is often associated with bravery and taking bold steps. Using purple encourages students to see seeking help as a courageous and empowering action, helping to break down the stigma and shame associated with mental health issues.
Soft blue: Anxiety.
Soft blue is calming and soothing, helping to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. It is often associated with tranquility, peace, and a sense of calm. This color helps create a serene atmosphere, encouraging students to feel relaxed and at ease as they learn techniques to manage their anxiety.
Warm Green: Loneliness.
Warm green is reassuring and comforting. It symbolizes growth, renewal, and the connection with nature. This color promotes a sense of belonging and comfort, reassuring students that they are not alone and encouraging connections with others.
CONCLUSION
In the context of creating mental health awareness flyers, especially within a psychology framework, conducting research before launching the design process is crucial for several compelling reasons:
Targeted Communication: Research ensures that the messages in the flyers are specifically tailored to address the prevalent mental health concerns within the target demographic, such as adolescents. This precision in communication increases the effectiveness of the flyers.
Understanding Stigma and Barriers: Prior research helps identify specific stigmas and barriers that adolescents face regarding mental health. This insight allows the flyers to address these issues directly, crafting messages that not only inform but also empower and encourage open dialogue.
Cultural Sensitivity: By understanding the cultural background of the target audience through research, the flyers can be designed to be culturally sensitive and relevant, which enhances receptivity and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings or offenses.
Evidence-Based Strategies: Research provides evidence-based strategies and interventions that are known to be effective in promoting mental health. Incorporating these into the flyers ensures that the advice given is not only practical but also scientifically validated.
Measuring Impact: Initial research sets a benchmark for evaluating the impact of the flyers. By understanding the baseline attitudes and knowledge of mental health among adolescents, subsequent studies can measure the effectiveness of the flyers in changing perceptions and encouraging help-seeking behavior.