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In light of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, National Geographic launched a new campaign focusing on mental health check-ups, consisting of articles, videos, photography, and more. The content includes items such as downloadable phone backgrounds, ASMR nature YouTube videos, sense-soothing Spotify playlists, and a “How Stressed Are You?” questionnaire originally created by psychologists in 1983.
The campaign also features think pieces on America’s culture of urgency which is contributing to burnout, the efficacy of meditation, and various perspectives on dealing with stress. “Chronic stress negatively affects our health. We want people to better understand stress effects and encourage them to prioritize their mental health,” said National Geographic Editor-in-Chief, Nathan Lump.
This initiative stemmed from an in-depth study into how scientists have been trying to address stress for generations, since it can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and a weakened immune system. In an interview, NatGeo contributor Yudhijit Bhattacharjee highlighted that stress is a universal presence, affecting our health and well-being and the functioning of our brains and immune systems.
He added that social isolation, intensified by the coronavirus pandemic, is a significant stress contributor. Bhattacharjee’s research also delved into how stress can affect children’s and adolescents’ development. He stated that high stress levels can hinder a child’s brain development and that the stress parents experience while trying to provide for their families can inadvertently transfer to their children, potentially leading to lifelong consequences.
The campaign is intended to draw attention to the effects of stress on us and our children and to promote different ways of de-stressing. Bhattacharjee believes that introducing practices such as meditation to children can significantly benefit society by transforming how we respond to daily stress.
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