River Edge Behavioral Health’s awareness campaign, “Unmasking Mental Illness” took home bronze at the 2017 Healthcare Marketing IMPACT Awards, presented by Modern Healthcare and Advertising Age in Chicago on Nov. 7. The campaign was a finalist in the Integrated Campaign category.

“Unmasking Mental Illness” features these influential Central Georgia leaders: Macon-Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert, Bibb County School Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones, Macon-Bibb Judicial Superior Court Judge Verda M. Colvin and Macon-Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.  

The IMPACT Awards recognize the best in healthcare advertising, marketing, promotion and communication across all types of media platforms by providers, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, suppliers, vendors and advocacy groups. Other finalists included Johnson & Johnson Medical Device Companies and Medela.

“Unmasking Mental Illness” was developed by Macon-based communications strategist Jessica Lanier Walden, LLC. Big Hair Productions, also Macon-based, produced the television announcements. The billboards and print ads were designed by Macon’s Burt & Burt. Photography was produced by Macon’s Ken Krakow and Maryann Bates. Additional collateral was created by formerly Central Georgia-based graphic artist, Susie Allen.

“The River Edge team knows mental illness touches all Americans. We were so proud that Central Georgia and our message, ‘If it’s not you, it’s someone you love,’ was recognized at the national level,” said River Edge Chief Executive Officer Shannon Terrell Gordon, LCSW. “Rive Edge hopes the ‘Unmasking Mental Illness’ campaign continues to shed light on these brain-based health conditions, because treatment is effective and recovery can be expected.  We are sincerely grateful to the Central Georgia leaders who contributed to the campaign. Together, we make life better.”