Leaders in Mental Health Join Forces to Address Issue #B4Stage4

Alexandria, VA—In a unique communication partnership, Mental Health America (MHA) and UK-based ITN Productions have launched a news and current affairs-style program to examine the current state of mental health in America, how to improve mental health services, and how to gain a better understanding of conditions to identify them far sooner.

#B4Stage4 is an in-depth, online program specifically aimed at those working to improve mental health across the nation. It examines the challenges facing the country, the success of MHA’s online screening tools; innovations in the field that allow personalized pathways for all patients; and continued support and understanding in managing any condition.

Joining MHA and ITN as collaborators in the program, Centerstone, Magellan Health, InSight, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals highlight the unique and innovative ways their companies are making a difference in the lives of those dealing with mental illness. The program also features a summary of the MHA 2015 Annual Conference: Intervention and Innovation Before Stage 4, along with an interview with Miss Mississippi Teen USA Andrea Hightower, who speaks to her personal commitment to promoting mental health through the pageant’s platform and beyond.

“Mental Health America is excited to partner with ITN Production on this important project and to shed light on a new way of thinking when it comes to mental health,” said Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of MHA. “#B4Stage4 is not just a title or a hashtag—it’s a movement to address mental health differently. Mental Health America is committed to addressing mental health before Stage 4, and is excited that so many prominent leaders in mental health have joined us in this project.”

We wouldn’t ignore early signs of cancer or diabetes—so why do we ignore early signs of mental illness? Like other diseases, MHA believes need to address these symptoms early, identify the underlying disease, and plan an appropriate course of action on a path towards overall health.

“Campaigns such as ITN and MHA’s #B4Stage4 are essential to eliminating stigma and promoting hope,” said James Stringham, senior vice president, Magellan Health. “Magellan is appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of this program, through sharing one of our initiatives that addresses whole person health and wellness—our integrated health home. We hope that this story will inspire others to continue their recovery journey.”

“InSight was excited to see Inpathy featured in the #B4Stage4 project because online appointments are a modern, convenient way to access mental health providers and help bring care to individuals who would otherwise not seek services or have access to them,” said Geoffrey Boyce, Executive Director, InSight.  

The news-style piece combines key industry interviews and news-style reports with sponsored editorial profiles of some of the leading organizations in the sector.

“The behavioral healthcare landscape is in flux and evolving rapidly, and we have better tools than ever to effectively treat and support those with mental illness and addiction,” said Bob Vero, CEO of Centerstone (Tennessee). “This is why it has never been more imperative for those in our field to collaborate and share best practices and lessons learned so that, together, we can improve how we serve those within our communities. Through expanding knowledge, we can help people earlier—before they reach Stage 4.”

 #B4Stage4 premiered at the MHA Annual Conference and can be seen it its entirety at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/b4stage4-program. The program's next phase is an extensive online communications campaign that will include outreach to medical organizations, associations, healthcare providers, health systems, and other organized systems of care; as well as journalists, writers and bloggers in the sector.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with the enormously innovative Mental Health America in bringing to life the many ways in which we can move upstream to identify mental health conditions earlier, and bring greater understanding to the management of those conditions,” said Simon Shelley, Director of Programs, ITN Productions. “ITN Productions prides itself on storytelling, and we want to continue to work with MHA, the forward-thinking companies in the sector, and the brave people we’ve met to tell their stories.”

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About Mental Health America
Mental Health America is the nation’s leading community-based network dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated care and treatment for those who need it—with recovery as the goal.

About ITN Productions
ITN Productions is ITN’s bespoke production hub producing creative and commercially valuable content for the corporate, commercial, broadcast and digital sectors. Industry News forms part of this offering and is a communications tool for leading industry bodies and national associations produced in a broadcast news programme format, including interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles. For more information visit: www.itnproductions.co.uk