From the Nominator

Boston University public health researchers Dr. Sarah Lipson and Dr. Julia Raifman released a study related to the largest and most comprehensive mental health survey of college students in the United States. Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the findings revealed that students who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, and nonbinary face enormous mental health disparities relative to their peers. Boston University sought to raise awareness of this research, along with the actionable solutions higher education leaders can implement to address this mental health gap. To do this, Boston University put together a comprehensive and holistic media strategy that would reach higher education leaders and LGBTQ+ young adults, in addition to the broader public and those interested in public health and health care issues. We targeted education and healthcare trade media, as well as national and broadcast media and outlets covering LGBTQ+ issues. We leveraged integrated tactics including utilizing Boston University’s research publication The Brink, distribution channels such as EurekAlert, and social media distribution to elevate the importance of the research, helping to spark national conversation and attention in the media and beyond. Our efforts garnered more than 40 pieces of traditional media coverage. On social media, we had more than 1,286 engagements, and reached more than 59,000 people collectively across Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

From the Judges

Boston University was effective in taking on a topic that resonates locally and nationally about mental health and college students, and used all available resources to tell this important story about the university's research collaboratively and with compassion. They clearly defined the problem, and laid out well-researched solutions in their plan. The multi-platform outreach, diverse storytelling, and leverage of key stakeholders for this story were also very well done.