a production of Twin Cities Public Television and WGBH Boston

• Home
• Tools
• E-newsletter
• Watch a clip
• Grantees
• Promotion
• Logos & images
• Send an e-card
• Contact us

In this issue:

• Welcome from Outreach & Promotion Specialist Heidi Van Heel
• Website Goes Live!
• Tips on Keeping Your Outreach Alive Beyond Broadcast
• Grantee Spotlight
• Outreach Tools in Spanish!
• Promoting DEPRESSION
• Coming Soon

The broadcast premiere of DEPRESSION is upon us; on May 21, at 9:00 PM ET, millions of viewers will tune in nationwide to gain hope and help around this widespread (but treatable) disease.

As this date rapidly approaches, you'll hear more about the show from various media outlets. We've also been encouraged to see several stations highlighting the program in their monthly magazine, as well as promoting it electronically.

In addition to media coverage, I'm excited to report that all of your effort and creative ideas around local partnerships are also making waves in communities across the country. Your outreach initiatives are drawing crowds, raising awareness and sparking action around this devastating disease. Here is a brief snapshot of a few select events I’ve seen in recent weeks:

• Howard University and WHUT sponsored a Washington, D.C. event that focused on depression within the African American community. The gathering was hosted by Dr. Donna Barnes of Howard University Medical School, and featured speakers included Black Pain author Terrie Williams who was featured in the film. Highlights from the documentary were also shown.


• DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows was featured at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. After screening a highlight reel, Dr Annelle Primm, Director of Community Affairs with the APA, hosted an expert panel discussion featuring filmmaker and producer Larkin McPhee and executive producer Phylis Geller. Psychiatrists from across the country discussed long-term uses for the film and the outreach materials.


• The Seattle Public Library partnered with the YMCA of Greater Seattle to host a screening that focused on at-risk youth dealing with depression. Participant in the documentary, DeShawn "Jiwe" Morris who is also the author of War of the Bloods in My Veins: A Street Soldier's March Toward Redemption, acted as a featured speaker, and was joined by author Terrie Williams, who also leads The Stay Strong Foundation, a nonprofit organization for at-risk youth.


• Twin Cities Public Television worked with multiple local partners to present a screening event and expert panel discussion, which was attended by approximately 250 people. The panel included three individuals from the film, Ellie and Jeffrey Zuehlke and their postpartum depression expert Dr. Helen Kim; as well as filmmaker and producer Larkin McPhee. Audience members participated in a Q and A session, and twelve local mental health organizations were on hand to discuss their resources.

We look forward to hearing from you about the activities in your communities surrounding both the DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows broadcast premiere, as well as ongoing educational initiatives. Please take a moment to share your successes, questions, and stories with tpt at hvanheel@tpt.org.

Enjoy the program, and as always, thanks for your interest and hard work.

Heidi Van Heel
Outreach & Promotion Specialist

We're pleased to announce that our destination Web site for DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows has launched! Visit http://www.pbs.org/takeonestep/depression to:

• Learn more about the documentary: www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/about.html


• Read producer interviews: www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/producers.html


• Gather deeper insight about the individuals and families featured in the film: www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/faces.html


• Watch highlights (and after broadcast, view the film in its entirety) www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/video-preview.html


• Hear from an expert: www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/ask_an_expert.html


• Get more information on resources you can use in your community: www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/resources.html

If you have questions or suggestions about the site (or about other Take One Step sites, don’t hesitate to share them at www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/site/feedback.html.

Tips on Keeping Your Outreach Alive Beyond Broadcast

We know you're always thinking about sustaining your educational initiatives long after the television screen goes dark. Here are a few ideas to keep your community focused on DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows.

SHARE.

You no doubt already work with some amazing groups in your community, so offer the DEPRESSION resources to them. This will allow them to tailor the tools to their ongoing initiatives and keep DEPRESSION "top of mind" in your community. Invite them to surf to http://www.tpt.org/depression/outreach to see where our resources fit into their current or upcoming programming. Then ask them to keep in touch—we'd like to hear their stories!

PARTNER.

Remember that the YMCA of America and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) are our formal community outreach partners, and chances are good that both of these groups have a presence in your city and/or state. Twin Cities Public Television has made posters available to these organizations, and we will distribute DVDs after the DEPRESSION broadcast to promote post-broadcast screening events. Visit www.ymca.net or www.nami.org to locate your local chapters; you may be able to join forces to create sustainable programming around DEPRESSION.

RECOGNIZE.

Sometimes a small incentive works wonders in keeping the energy high and the activities moving forward. Can you solicit a local business to donate small prizes to offer to outreach superstars? A simple gift certificate can show you appreciate your partners' contributions.

MODEL.

Show your commitment to raising awareness around depression right at your station. Invite coworkers or community outreach partners to simple DEPRESSION-inspired gatherings, like a brown-bag screening of selected "chapters" from the film, or a discussion led by your HR representative about mental health maintenance options available under your company's insurance plan. Your participation is inspirational!

TRACK.

When you complete DEPRESSION-related programming, provide project leaders with outcome information, such as the number of participants, successes, and challenges. This tangible feedback may supply either the blueprint or the enthusiasm required for another round of initiatives!

Grantee Spotlight

Our premiere month of May is also "primetime" for many of our grantee stations' Mental Health Summits. Below are a few highlights of how our stations are reaching out in their communities over the upcoming weeks:

• Arkansas Educational Television and its partners will host a one-day gathering for health care providers, educators, and human resource and EAP professionals on "premiere day," May 21. This summit will focus on how these groups are currently helping those with depression. Participants will also brainstorm on how to collaborate to better serve state residents. In addition to this meeting, AETN will also air a one-hour special on depression in Arkansas, presented with their partner, NAMI, and featuring an expert panel and call-in segment.


• Nashville Public Television has also chosen May 21 to partner with NAMI and the YMCA. Together, these organizations will sponsor a day-long summit titled Healing the Hidden Wounds: Forging Community Partnerships to Meet Mental Health Needs of Military Service Members and Their Families. Attendees will work to create and implement strategies to integrate Fort Campbell soldiers and veterans back into their communities, and assist mental health professionals in improving support and services to soldiers, veterans and their families. Participants will also create follow-up working groups, which they will organize under topics such as "Active Duty," "Coming Home," and "The Long Haul."


• WUFT in Gainesville, FL has chosen Friday, May 23rd to host a leadership forum on the topic of treatment and recovery from depression. Summit participants will include research, community and mental health professionals representing the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Gainesville Mayor and City Commissioners, County Commissioners, Sheriffs, health department directors, hospital staff and NAMI members. Participants will discuss mental health services and resources currently available, as well as identify needs not yet met.

Watch this space to learn about outcomes of these and other grantee Summits!

Outreach Tools in Spanish

With the growing number of Spanish speakers, how are you reaching out to this community? Let tpt help! Visit http://www.tpt.org/depression/outreach/tools.php for downloadable outreach tip sheets in Spanish, and contact us at hvanheel@tpt.org for information about our Spanish SAP track for the film.

Promoting DEPRESSION

Point, click, and PROMOTE! It’s really that simple to share the good news about DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows. Our online promotional toolkit features turnkey resources.

• Send an E-CARD! Visit: http://www.tpt.org/depression/outreach/e-card.php


• Download a customizable DEPRESSION flyer at http://www.tpt.org/depression/outreach/tools.php


• Go to http://www.tpt.org/depression/outreach/promotion.php to get contact information for our promotional partners, Dan Klores Communications.

Don't forget to write us about your promotional successes and questions at hvanheel@tpt.org.

Coming Soon

Watch for updates and success stories about the DEPRESSION premiere and other health-related programming from Twin Cities Public Television!

There are many people who can assist your station's outreach efforts or answer questions about DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows.

• For questions about outreach and station relations, contact Roselle Kovitz (rosellek@comcast.net) or Sallie Bodie (s.bodie@comcast.net) of Bodie & Kovitz Communications, or Heidi Van Heel (hvanheel@tpt.org) at Twin Cities Public Television.


• For questions about promotion or promotional tools, contact Brian Moriarty (brian_moriarty@dkcnews.com) of Dan Klores Communications, or Heidi Van Heel (hvanheel@tpt.org) at Twin Cities Public Television.


• For questions about the production or other inquiries, contact Heidi Van Heel (hvanheel@tpt.org) at Twin Cities Public Television.

If you received this newsletter from someone else or are viewing it on our website and would like to receive future versions by e-mail, subscribe at http://tpt.org/depression/outreach/e-newsletter.php.

If you are subscribed to this list inadvertently or if you wish to unsubscribe, please use the unsubscribe form at http://tpt.org/depression/outreach/enews_unsubscribe.php.

 

.