The past few years have seen some revolutionary progress when it comes to publicly recognizing the need to prioritize mental health. Spending a year or more at home thanks to covid-19 protocols has been a catalyst for conversation, as many people work through depression and anxiety by sharing their experiences on social media or at least with a talking therapist.
Conversations about mental health go hand in hand with the concept of “self-care”. Anything you do for your well-being is self-care. According to commercials, self-care looks like fancy bubble baths, sheet masks, and scented candles. And it can look like things like this — along with taking care of your emotional health.
Pampering yourself is often a way to relax, unwind, and take a long pause to invest in your happiness. Thanks to the contribution of beauty influencers and lifestyle brands, there is a strong correlation between the beauty industry and all the mental health benefits that come along with self-care activities.
This week, owned by L’Oreal (LRLCY) Cosmetics brand Maybelline has taken the step of flipping the text about the relationship between personal care and mental health. Through its Brave Together initiative, the company has partnered with mental health professionals, in addition to leveraging already existing resources, to remove the stigma of anxiety and depression and raise awareness about the importance of mental health.
Maybelline NY brings brave talk to the next generation
According to Maybelline Global Brand Head, Trisha Ayagari, the company “has always believed in the power of making things happen in your life, and we know that mental health is critical in feeling ready to do so. We want to use our brand’s global reach to drive that conversation and make support easily accessible. “.
Now, Brave Together wants to take its mission to colleges across the U.S. To do so, it’s partnering with the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes emotional wellness and suicide prevention in young adults. After losing their son to suicide in 1998, founders Phil and Donna Satow created The Jed Foundation to serve as a blueprint for how schools, children, and parents talk about mental health.
Together, the two organizations are launching Brave Talk, a training program that aims to provide students with the tools to support those around them who may be struggling with mental health issues. Participants will recognize the signs that a friend may be suffering and learn how to relate them to qualified care.
The program will begin at New York University later this month. Maybelline plans to expand its Brave Talk training to other institutions in the region, and eventually across the country.
Mental health beauty companies
Maybelline’s mental health initiatives are uncommon, but unheard of. Other companies are using the relationship between beauty and well-being to start proactive conversations about mental health, too.
Coty company (kotie) She owns Philosophy, the skincare company that founded the Hope & Grace Foundation, a program that provides grants to pay for mental health services for women and their families. Unilever PLC (water) Soap brand Dove has made great strides in the Self-Esteem Project, which brings self-esteem education to parents, teachers, and youth leaders.
