Mediacorp’s weekly current affairs program, Talking Point, has launched a public awareness campaign on mental health featuring the beloved Sesame Street character, Elmo. This campaign, titled “#WhoIsCheckingIn”, aims to encourage Singaporeans to be open about their emotions and support each other’s mental health.
Campaign Launch and Elmo’s Message
To launch the “#WhoIsCheckingIn” campaign, the Talking Point team collaborated with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. This partnership resulted in a heartwarming video message where Elmo checks in on Singaporeans, saying:
“Hello Singapore, Elmo’s just checking in. How’s everybody doing?”
The video encourages viewers to share their feelings by commenting, sending direct messages to CNA Insider, or stitching the TikTok video. The goal is to start a nationwide conversation about mental health and the importance of checking in with one another.
Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation
The campaign is particularly relevant given recent surveys, including one by the Institute of Policy Studies, highlighting the loneliness and social isolation faced by young Singaporeans. Elmo’s involvement is inspired by a viral tweet from his X account earlier this year, where he asked his followers how they were doing, receiving 191.4 million views and 16,000 replies sharing personal struggles.
Involvement of Influencers and Personalities
To amplify the campaign’s reach, Talking Point is enlisting the help of Mediacorp’s personalities and influencers, including Talking Point hosts Diana Ser, Munah Bagharib, Steven Chia, and Shrey Bhargava. Activities over the next three months, leading up to World Mental Health Day on October 10, will focus on highlighting the importance of checking in with one another and alleviating loneliness.
Influencer Preeti Nair, known as Preetipls, responded to Elmo’s video with a reel where she candidly shared her own struggles, reinforcing the message to check in on loved ones. Her caption emphasized that it’s okay to take time to process big feelings and check in on yourself and others.
Broadening the Conversation
Other influencers and politicians have joined the conversation, including Das DD, Shrey Bhargava, Munah Bagharib, Chan Chuan Sing, Wan Rizal, Rahayu Mahzam, and Rachel Ong. Their involvement helps broaden the reach and impact of the campaign.
The campaign will culminate in a special episode airing on World Mental Health Day, October 10, reinforcing the importance of mental health awareness and support in Singapore. Through this initiative, Talking Point aims to create a supportive community where people feel encouraged to share their emotions and check in on each other regularly.
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