YCSC Grand Rounds

This presentation will review strategies for reducing mental health stigma among youth, focusing on brief human connection videos in which individuals share their stories with openness and emotional clarity. Drawing on recent studies that develop, test, and refine short personal narratives, the talk will show how carefully crafted videos—balancing honesty, emotion, and hope—can foster identification, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking. Evidence from multiple trials with adolescents and young adults will be summarized, along with insights into what makes these videos effective and how they can be scaled for diverse audiences. The presentation will conclude with implications for wide-reaching, cost-effective implementation.