The content series – available for free on YouTube and Calm – includes five sessions to support people through real-life experiences and emotions. Themes include: easing holiday stress, combating loneliness, navigating hectic days and dealing with uncertainty, change and negativity in the world.
“Access to mental health support is vital to our overall well-being,” said Dr. Murthy. “During my travels across the country as Surgeon General, I’ve heard firsthand about the mental health struggles and loneliness that people are facing. While the pandemic brought the issues of stress, anxiety, and loneliness to the forefront, these struggles existed long before COVID-19. Easy-to-use mental health tools and practices can help families address stress and strengthen one of the most powerful sources of healing – our relationships with one another.”
While three in five Americans say the holidays impact their mental health, it’s not the only driver of stress for people across the country. Last month, Dr. Murthy released the Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace, helping organizations rethink how they foster a more profound sense of connection, support employee growth and more.
“Building and creating sustainable mental health habits are more important than ever as we head into the holidays and begin a new year,” said David Ko, Calm’s CEO. “Our hope in partnering with the nation’s doctor is to give our community a resource to support them as they navigate life’s ever-changing experiences and emotions.”
The campaign is the latest from Calm to facilitate access to mental health resources among Americans. In October, Calm curated The Essentials, free content and tools to support its community with anxiety, stress, sleep and more. In this collaboration with the Surgeon General, Calm provides even more free actionable, approachable mental health tools to Americans as they head into the holiday season.
As the Nation’s Doctor – the 21st Surgeon General of the United States – Dr. Vivek Murthy has focused much of his work, research, and public platform on how the nation can recover from the pandemic stronger than before, including his Surgeon General’s Advisories on Youth Mental Health and Health Worker Well-Being, and his recently-issued Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace. These actions are a part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) ongoing efforts to support President Joe Biden’s whole-of-government strategy to transform mental health services for all Americans—a key part of the President’s Unity Agenda that is reflected in the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget.
