PREMERA BLUE CROSS

Teaming Up in the Name of Mental Health

Premera and the Kraken: A Game-Changer for Mental Health
CREATIVE
Digital Video
Social
CHALLENGE / Despite rising mental health awareness, the stigma around seeking help prevents too many from taking the first step, especially in male-dominated arenas like professional sports.

INSIGHT / Viewers are more likely to relate to and act on vulnerable conversations when they see role models—like athletes—open up honestly about their own mental health experiences.

SOLUTION / Premera partnered with the Seattle Kraken to launch a bold campaign on Mental Health Awareness Night, pairing a powerful TV spot with raw, player-led video content to show that “Whoever you are, it’s OK to ask for help.” The campaign reached over 1M organically and achieved 96% positive sentiment on social.
Whoever you are, It’s OK to ask for help.
Deep, introspective conversations among Kraken teammates helped to further normalize mental health subject matter. Each player shared personal stories of their own struggles in this series of online videos produced as content for #HockeyTalks, a national public awareness campaign for NHL teams designed to encourage conversations and share support about mental health.

The campaign helped prove Premera’s commitment to offering comprehensive mental health support to all their members, something not all health plan competitors are willing to do.

Poster with a lone man sitting with four empty chairs signifying the 1 in 5 people who deal with a mental health issue every year
Poster with a lone man sitting with four empty chairs signifying the 1 in 5 people who deal with a mental health issue every year
Poster with a lone man sitting with four empty chairs signifying the 1 in 5 people who deal with a mental health issue every year
Results
96%
Net positive sentiment across social channels
1.03MM
Organic reach across social channels
68%
Increase in reach across social channels