New podcast series Our Turn To Talk tackles teen mental health crisis

From the pandemic and social media stressors, to racism and poverty, Americans face a growing number of crises that are directly related to rising levels of mental health conditions. The decline in teenagers’ well-being is so significant that the U.S. surgeon general recently warned of a “devastating” mental health crisis among adolescents. Our Turn to Talk w/Anastasia Vlasova, a new podcast series premiering on May 3, 2022, is hosted by 19-year-old mental health activist Anastasia Vlasova. The podcast addresses this crisis by focusing on the life-saving power of storytelling through interviews with teens, parents, and mental health experts.

OUR TURN TO TALK is produced by impact media company Principle Pictures in partnership with This Is My Brave, Inc., an organization that empowers individuals to speak openly about their experiences with mental health and addiction through performing arts. Each episode focuses on the mental health journeys of young people across the United States. The podcast offers guests the opportunity to take control of their stories and empower others along the way by reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction. Each of the 10 episodes will be released on a weekly cadence starting May 3, 2022 on all podcast platforms.

“We know that the power of storytelling is universal. When you tell your story, you feel less alone and it’s easier to seek support,” said Anastasia Vlasova, podcast host and mental health activist. “Through my own lived experience with an eating disorder, I understand the importance of starting early and speaking often about mental health and mental wellness within our families and friend circles.Telling your story really lifts a burden from your shoulders, and it shows others that we are not alone in the struggle. Our big message with this new podcast is that you shouldn’t be afraid to reach out for help. It’s all about our generation really being the first to be so vocal about mental illness and mental health struggles.”

“My 13-year-old daughter was treated for depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder during the pandemic, so I’ve seen first-hand the terrifying reality of what adolescents are going through right now. I wanted to create a resource that teens desperately need and in the process also create something that I find invaluable as a parent,” said Beth Murphy, Founder of Principle Pictures and Executive Producer of the series.

“This Is My Brave’s research shows publicly sharing one’s mental health story contributes to a reduction in self-stigma and an increase in confidence and sense of belonging,” said Erin Gallagher, Interim Executive Director, This Is My Brave. “Our findings move us forward in our vision to one day live in a world where we don’t have to call it brave to talk openly about mental health. We’ll simply call it talking. We’re excited to present season one of OUR TURN TO TALK as an additional platform to amplify teen stories of hope and recovery.”

OUR TURN TO TALK includes content from the WETA Well Beings Youth Mental Health Project and will be available for free on all podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. It is executive produced by Beth Murphy and Jennifer Marshall, produced by Megan Botel and Patrice Howard, with editing by Mitch Hanley. Support for the podcast is provided by The Hollister Confidence Fund, The Hershey Company, Rose-Marie van Otterloo and the Risa Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Washington.