Choose the Best Words

Every day, people grapple with mental health issues, and while many want to assist loved ones, they lack guidance on how to offer support. DCF created this award-winning campaign to combat the stigma of mental health and promote the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course aimed to help people intervene and give aid during a mental health crisis. The campaign features scenarios where MHFA training can help, encouraging open conversations about mental health and demonstrating the impact of choosing the right words. By translating evidence-based mental health practices into accessible, community-centered communications, the campaign advanced health equity by building public understanding, encouraging peer support, and inspiring action. The success of this campaign led to over 155,000 completions and won awards from the National Association of Government Communicators and the Creative Communication Award.