HOPE MEANS NEVADA, ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD TO HOST #ASK5 TO SMASH STRESS SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN DURING STRESS AWARENESS MONTH IN APRIL 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

HOPE MEANS NEVADA, ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD TO HOST #ASK5 TO SMASH STRESS SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN DURING STRESS AWARENESS MONTH IN APRIL 

Four-Week Campaign from April 1 – 30 to Improve Overall Teen Mental Wellness 

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LAS VEGAS (March 2024) – Hope Means Nevada (HMN), the community-based nonprofit focused on mental wellness and eliminating youth suicide across Nevada, announces it will launch its fourth annual #Ask5 to Smash Stress social media campaign. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a leading provider of managed healthcare services in Nevada, returns as this year’s campaign sponsor and will jointly host the campaign between Monday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 30, in recognition of National Stress Awareness Month. The campaign will be accessible on HMN’s Facebook, X and Instagram pages. 

#Ask5 to Smash Stress is a peer-to-peer social media campaign focusing on encouraging teens to connect with each other to raise awareness of resources that could improve mental health and even save lives. Throughout the month, this campaign will encourage teens to #Ask5 of their friends how they are doing and provide actionable techniques to foster mental wellness.  

Teens will be encouraged to log onto social media daily to learn about a variety of subjects. This year, local mental health professionals offering mental wellness tips include Ali Borowsky with Find Your Anchor, Zari Zapinsky with the Boys & Girls Club, Dr. Sheldon Jacobs with NAMI Southern Nevada, Lili Equihua with Lili Pond Therapy and Jessica Castillo with Blooming Minds. Prominent social media influencers, including Wy Mac, Dr. Kojo and Jayna Huges, will also engage in meaningful conversations with HMN and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. For the third year, professional football cheerleader Kristina Cullinane will return with a presentation to help teens understand grief and loss. Lastly, HMN Teen Committee alumni will interview current members to discuss college expectations and experiences. 

Each week, the #Ask5 to Smash Stress campaign will focus on a different theme and topic to raise awareness about how to effectively alleviate stress: 

• Week 1, April 1 – 8: Artistic Expression 
• Week 2, April 9 – 15: Healing Hearts – Grief and Loss 
• Week 3, April 16 – 22: Transitioning To College
• Week 4, April 23 – 30: Mindful Media 

The campaign will also feature different challenges to encourage teens to engage with the campaign and share information with their peers. Challenges will include: 

• Asking five friends to join in watching #Ask5 to Smash Stress daily live streams and videos. 
• Joining the #DeinfluenceChallenge on social media to promote creating a safe and positive space online. 
• Sharing #Ask5 to Smash Stress topics and tips with family and/or friends. 

“As Hope Means Nevada continues to grow and reach more teens across the state, we are ecstatic to launch our #Ask5 to Smash Stress campaign for the fourth year in a row,” said Ciera Bellavance, executive director, Hope Means Nevada. “Bringing together members of the community – from psychologists to influencers, local teens, celebrities and more – will spark crucial conversations about the importance of mental wellness.”  

In addition to the social media campaign for Stress Awareness Month, Hope Means Nevada has partnered with AREA15 to host EXHALE: A Yoga and Breathwork Event, with proceeds benefiting Hope Means Nevada. To purchase tickets, click here. 

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
Media are invited to interview mental health professionals and subject matter experts from Hope Means Nevada, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and local organizations to learn more about this effort and other available resources so they can be shared with audiences to influence positive action and strengthen communities. To schedule a phone, Zoom or on-air interview, please contact Vanessa Thill at vanessa@thevoxagency.com. 

ABOUT ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada helps improve healthcare access and quality for more than 650,000 Nevadans by developing innovative care management programs and services. Anthem’s top priority is the health and well-being of its members and enabling access to comprehensive healthcare. Through health education and community outreach programs, members are empowered to choose and sustain a healthy lifestyle. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Care Health Plan of Nevada, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. To learn more, visit www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS_news or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnthemMedicaid/. 

ABOUT HOPE MEANS NEVADA
Hope Means Nevada’s (HMN) mission is to eliminate teen suicide and empower Nevada’s youth to live hopeful lives. As one of the most trusted and visible mental health resources in the state, HMN inspires a culture of empathy and advocacy around mental health. While raising awareness around Nevada’s high rates of mental health challenges, the organization strives to amplify hope and connect youth with desperately needed resources. Through collaborative, compassionate, inclusive and impactful efforts, the community-based initiative envisions a suicide-free Nevada. For more information about Hope Means Nevada, go to www.hopemeansnevada.org and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The new National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is now a three-digit dialing code 988. Those experiencing a mental health emergency can also text “Home” to 741741 to reach the National Crisis Text Line. 

MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Vanessa Thill/ Erika Pope
The Vox Agency 
vanessa@thevoxagency.com, erika@thevoxagency.com 
(469) 226-4723, (702) 249-2977 

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