Why is a Cosmetics Company Involved in Mental Health?
The first words I read in the full-page ad in the New York Times on October 10th were “Be Brave. Have The Talk. Help A Friend.” The ad offered a free 10-minute training so that you would know how to talk to a friend who you thought might be struggling with depression or anxiety. 
I asked myself why Maybelline New York was sponsoring this training? I knew the statistics were worrisome. 50% of young adults suffer from depression or anxiety and one third of all adults do, also. And we have a mental health crisis in this country with too few professionals to help.
So I took a chance and logged in to the 10-minute training. I shared it with some psychologist colleagues and my sister-in-law, who is a psychiatrist. We all thought it was very good. With simple words and anime-type artwork, it taught you what to say, how to say it, and how to be appropriately empathic while you talked to a friend who might be worried or sad. It used the word BRAVE as a guide with questions to ask and choices to make about how to proceed, each letter connected to the next step in the training. Furthermore, Maybelline New York committed to helping 10 million people with 1:1 mental health support thru 2030. The program is also supported by the Jed Foundation and NAMI.
Maybelline is, like all cosmetics companies, a corporation that focuses on external beauty. But their involvement with this program shows us that they are willing to support work that starts on the inside and is desperately needed.
So go to Maybelline New York Mental Health and scroll down to start the training. https://www.maybelline.com/brave-talk-training Share it with your children and your friends. It will be worth your time.