The Kids Mental Health Foundation and CAA Foundation Host Star-Studded Panel Discussion for World Mental Health Day

Actor Raymond Lee, Josh Griffith, Mattel and Nationwide to Discuss How Corporations, Communities and the Entertainment Industry Can Support Children’s Mental Health

(Pictured L-R: Krista Berger, Raymond Lee, Josh Griffith, Vinita Clements, Dr. Ariana Hoet, Ross Szabo)

DOWNLOAD PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT HERE

Photo Credit: Viktoria Iliev and Lesya Abbakumova For The Kids Mental Health Foundation

LOS ANGELES (October 10, 2024) - Yesterday, The Kids Mental Health Foundation (KMHF) in partnership with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the leading entertainment and sports agency, hosted a panel about children’s mental health ahead of World Mental Health Day.

The panel, “Voices for Change: Leveraging Platforms to Support Children’s Mental Health,” brought together industry leaders from entertainment, business, and mental health advocacy at the CAA offices in Los Angeles to explore how storytelling, corporate responsibility, and community initiatives can support the mental well-being of children. World Mental Health Day, October 10, is a day of awareness and mobilization focused on those who are experiencing mental health issues.

Panelists included Dr. Ariana Hoet, Executive Clinical Director at The Kids Mental Health Foundation, Vinita Clements, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Nationwide, to share about their funding of Bloom, a KMHF program for working parents, Krista Berger, SVP of Barbie and Head of Dolls at Mattel, to share about Monster High’s Project Belonging partnership with KMHF, Raymond Lee, actor and KMHF Champion, and Josh Griffith, Executive Producer and Head Writer for The Young and the Restless.

For photos and video from the event, click here.

“It’s critically important for every industry to understand the impact of children’s mental health on the communities where we live and work,” said Dr. Ariana Hoet, Executive Clinical Director of the Kids Mental Health Foundation. “Our appreciation to CAA for hosting today’s inspiring panel discussion. We celebrate all the passionate and committed voices that participated and look forward to keeping the conversation going. Each of us has an opportunity to take positive action that will positively contribute to the mental health of our youth. We believe that together we can build a world where mental health is a vital part of every child’s growing up.”

The discussion kicked off with a keynote address from Dr. Smita Malhotra, Chief Medical Director for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Moderated by Ross Szabo, Wellness Director for the Geffen Academy and member of the National Advisory Council for KMHF, the panel focused on actionable ways industries can leverage their platforms to prioritize children’s mental health in their initiatives, content creation, and community outreach.

“Children look to media and entertainment for guidance, inspiration, and comfort, and it's our responsibility to ensure we're portraying mental health in a way that is honest, compassionate, and supportive,” said Raymond Lee, actor and KMHF Champion. “Regardless of what industry you’re in, we all have a role to play in creating a world where every child feels seen, heard, and understood."

“At the CAA Foundation, we are passionate advocates for the transformative power of storytelling to shape the future we envision,” said Dennis St. Rose, Executive, CAA Foundation. “Our partnership with the Kids Mental Health Foundation marks a significant stride in fostering open dialogue, breaking down stigma, and championing the mental health of the next generation.”

In April of this year, KMHF expanded its mission to champion the mental well-being of all children across the nation. In the six months since the announcement, KMHF continues to champion the belief that emotional and physical well-being deserve equal weight when considering a child's health, building upon its success by providing free resources and tools for parents to equip their children with skills to navigate their mental health, including the launch of the Mental Health Media Guide, a groundbreaking, comprehensive resource for content creators designed to help expand positive mental health portrayals. The guide was developed by a coalition of mental health experts, leaders from mental health organizations such as the KMHF, and a broad range of creative, production, and business professionals from media and entertainment companies. The best practices and evidence-based recommendations in this interactive tool are meant to support storytellers at any phase in the production process. The children’s chapter is the latest installment and comes at a time when there is an increasing need to address children’s mental health.

In addition to the panel, Kids Mental Health Foundation is observing World Mental Health Day by launching Take 5, a social campaign to encourage parents to take at least five minutes of intentional time to bond as a family in honor of World Mental Health Day.

For more information about The Kids Mental Health Foundation, please visit KidsMentalHealthFoundation.org.

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ABOUT THE KIDS MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

The Kids Mental Health Foundation is the leading organization promoting mental health for children in the United States. To achieve its vision to build a world where mental health is a vital part of every child’s upbringing, nearly 1,000 mental health professionals and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in partnership with other trusted experts, provide real-world knowledge and expertise to power the Foundation's free educational videos, guides and curriculum. To date more than 11 million people have engaged with the Foundation’s materials, helping parents, educators and coaches be a guiding force for children all across the United States.