The document proposes a program called #safenotSCared to address the problems of social stigma around mental illness and lack of awareness of mental health resources at USC. It involves creating safe physical and digital spaces for students to have open discussions about mental health led by peer educators. Anonymous fears would be showcased alongside campus resources. Partnerships would connect resources to specific student communities. Over time, social content and discussions would be aggregated on a website to continue supporting students and connecting them to help. The goal is to create a more comfortable environment for students to seek treatment and improve overall well-being.

1. #safenotSCared
MENTAL
ILLNESS
+
SOCIAL
STIGMA
SOLUTION
PROPOSAL
USC
DESIGN
FOR
AMERICA
STUDIO
BIANCA
NASSER
FALL
2014

2. PROBLEM
Social
stigma
often
deters
those
with
mental
illness
from
accessing
health
care
treatment
or
maximizing
their
potential.
Gone
untreated,
mental
illness
can
cause
severe
physical
health
issues,
poor
quality
of
life,
or
even
death.
INTRO

3. STATUS
QUO
Although
the
number
of
students
affected
by
mental
illness
is
increasing
-­‐
USC
does
not
provide
adequate
mental
health
education,
awareness,
or
peer
to
peer
support
programs
that
help
decrease
stigma.
INTRO

4. HOW
MIGHT
WE
How
might
we
decrease
social
stigma
surrounding
mental
illness
while
increasing
the
visibility
of
existing
mental
health
resources
on
campus?
INTRO

5. THE
IDEA
#safenotSCared
-­‐
an
interactive
experience
that
facilitates
safe
conversations
through
the
use
of
public
&
private
spaces,
peer
to
peer
education,
resource
partnerships
and
digital
platforms.
INTRO

6. PERSONAL
INTERVIEWS
Tanya
T.,
Behavior
Specialist
Elyn
R
Saks,
author,
founder,
lawyer
Saks
Institute
for
Mental
Health
Law,
Policy,
and
Ethics
Robert
Sachs,
Director,
USC
LGBT
11
USC
Undergraduates
RESEARCH

7. REPORTS
College
Students
Speak:
A
Survey
Report
on
Mental
Health,
The
National
Alliance
on
Mental
Illness
Students
Under
Pressure,
Amy
Novotney,
American
Psychological
Assoication
Return
on
Investment
Calculator,
Daniel
Eisenberg,
PhD
A
Strategic
Primer
on
College
Student
Mental
Health,
Louise
A.
Douce
&
Richard
P.
Keeling
!
!
!
RESEARCH

8. SURVEY
University
of
Southern
California
Students
22%
Male,
78%
Female
Age
18
-­‐
20
75%
Affected
by
mental
illness
91%
In
favor
of
a
USC
mental
illness
awareness
program
93%
labeled
mental
illness
as
negative
*Although
only
40%
identified
as
having
a
mental
illness,
46%
felt
ashamed
of
their
mental
illness*
RESEARCH

9. STUDENT
UTILIZED
DIGITAL
SPACE
Students
frequently
populate
these
digital
spaces
with
confessions,
fears,
and
other
personal
content.
!
These
spaces
emphasize
anonymity,
community,
locations
and
are
easily
accessible.
RESEARCH

10. Mental
Health
Focused Experiential
Peer
to
Peer Organized
Content
BEST
PRACTICES
SOCIAL
IMPACT
PROGRAMS
RESEARCH

11. INSIGHTS
!
Public
discussions
in
safe
spaces
can
normalize
“private”
problems
Peer
to
peer
education
is
most
effective,
therefore
public
discussions
must
be
led
by
peers
Language
used
in
discussion
heavily
impacts
comfort:
ex,
sick
not
weak
or
crazy
Safe
spaces
are
spaces
where
people
feel
understood
Safe
spaces
are
different
based
on
specific
needs
of
individual
communities
Students
look
to
other
students
to
lead
by
example
Fear
is
a
causal
root
of
stigma
that
affects
both
the
mentally
ill
and
the
communities
they
live
in
Fears
about
mental
illness
can
stem
from
a
lack
of
education
Empathy
and
education
is
achieved
through
personal
narratives
Students
are
more
comfortable
and
more
likely
to
share
a
personal
experience
anonymously
or
online
A
program
should
utilize
the
comfort
of
anonymous,
private,
digital
spaces
and
also
provide
the
real
time
support
of
a
physical
community
INSIGHTS

12. INSIGHTS
ASPECTS
OF
A
SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM

13. IDEATION
Create
a
safe
space
for
sharing
fears
in
public.

14. IDEATION
Showcase
anonymous
fears
in
public
space
next
to
mental
illness
campus
resources
and
peer
organized
/
led
discussions.

15. IDEATION
We’ve
partnered
with
the
USC
Greek,
Religious,
Academic
and
Athletic
communities
to
promote
mental
health
resources
that
cater
to
their
community’s
specific
needs.

16. SUSTAINABILITY
After
public
experiences
and
discussions
end,
student
social
content
and
discussions
can
be
aggregated
on
a
website
The
site
will
be
designed
for
interactive
browsing
New
partnerships
connect
existing
mental
health
resources
(USC
Counseling
and
the
Health
Center)
and
student
communities
(Student
Altheltics,
IFC,
Etc)
for
future
communication
!
FUTURE

17. BENEFITS
A
more
comfortable
environment
for
students
to
seek
treatment
Increased
student
retention
rates
Better
quality
of
life
for
those
affected
by
stigma
RESEARCH

18. THANK
YOU
Follow
project
progress:
http://morethanthebigpicture.tumblr.com/
FIGHT
ON!