SixDegrees.org launched #IGetIt in May 2025 (Mental Health Awareness Month) to spark a nationwide movement that normalized mental health conversations and made support more visible and accessible. The campaign invited people everywhere, from celebrities to community advocates, to share their “I get it” moments and everyday tools for well-being, sending a simple but powerful message: you’re not alone, and we get it.
Rooted in Degree Shift, our convener campaign model, #IGetIt united 13 nonprofits whose work intersects with mental health in diverse ways, from providing accessible eating disorder treatment to addressing the unique mental health needs of veterans, student-athletes, musicians, and more. Our goal was threefold:
With the support of leading partners Calm and BetterHelp, #IGetIt blended grassroots storytelling with high-profile amplification, creating a united front for mental health, transforming awareness into action, and connecting people with resources they could use immediately and share for lasting impact.
#IGetIt came to life through a strategic, collaborative rollout designed to elevate partners, engage diverse audiences, and connect people with practical mental health tools.
SixDegrees.org Founder Kevin Bacon kicked off the campaign with a post inviting people to share what helps them reset. Celebrity and influencer partners, including Rachelle Lefevre, Kyra Sedgwick, Mychal Threets, and the Frost Family, amplified the invitation to millions of followers, sharing their perspectives on mental health and encouraging others to join the movement.
A key element of #IGetIt was elevating the work of our 13 network partners. We highlighted each with a post celebrating their mission and impact. We hosted panel conversations with mental health leaders through our series The Impact Lounge: Mental Health Conversations That Connect Us, released weekly in May. These carefully curated discussions celebrated changemakers, showcased similarities and unique approaches, and sparked further collaboration.
At the heart of #IGetIt was our comprehensive mental health resource guide. We built this guide to be more than a list. It’s a living, accessible library of support. From crisis hotlines to podcasts and playlists for daily grounding to books and videos that deepen understanding, the guide meets people where they are in their mental health journey. Its design is simple, shareable, and inclusive, making it easy to share with a friend or bookmark for yourself. Partnerships with Calm and BetterHelp turned the guide into immediate action, offering free meditation tools and therapy sessions to those who downloaded it.
We hosted a LinkedIn Live with Calm’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Chris Mosunic. This conversation tackled mental health from a clinical perspective, focusing on making support more accessible and culturally relevant. Early in May, Kevin Bacon appeared on Calm’s CEO David Ko’s podcast, joining Chelsea Handler, Jordan Chiles, Common, and others.
As part of our omnichannel approach, we curated a mental wellness playlist, highlighting music as a popular tool for well-being. #IGetIt apparel encouraged campaign supporters to become walking billboards for the movement.
Keeping with our “a rising tide lifts all boats” philosophy, media placements were pursued collaboratively, ensuring coverage elevated SixDegrees.org and our network partners. This included a joint morning show appearance with one network partner, exemplifying the spirit of collaboration at the campaign’s core.
Three primary challenges shaped our approach:
By uniting grassroots advocates, nonprofits, and high-profile voices under one banner, #IGetIt didn’t just raise awareness. It built lasting connections, highlighted experts on the ground, and delivered resources designed to help today and continue serving tomorrow.
#IGetIt set out to normalize mental health conversations, amplify diverse nonprofits, and equip communities with accessible, actionable resources. The results show we didn’t just meet our goals but exceeded them, turning awareness into measurable impact and life-changing connections.
Through strategic partnerships and authentic storytelling, #IGetIt reached an audience of over 18 million via contributors and media partners, generating 3.39 million impressions and an average engagement rate of 5.47%, well above industry benchmarks. In May, our social reach surged to 577,458 unique users (a 154% increase from April) with 1,326 new followers joining the movement.
Impact went beyond metrics. 60% of surveyed participants first encountered #IGetIt on social media, and 90% expressed interest in future mental health or awareness campaigns. Our free mental health resource guide became a cornerstone; 70% of respondents engaged with it, accessing 32,800+ free resources. Of those, 90% sought further support via Calm or BetterHelp, and 80% said the campaign resonated personally. One participant shared: “This campaign made me realize I need help.” That single statement encapsulates the campaign’s purpose.
We spotlighted 13 nonprofit partners, mobilized celebrities, influencers, and everyday advocates, and built a truly inclusive, collaborative movement. #IGetIt didn’t just create visibility. It inspired action, dismantled stigma, and provided real tools for mental wellness, directly aligning with SixDegrees.org’s mission to connect people with the resources they need.
In the end, success wasn’t just in the numbers; it was in the lives changed, the conversations started, and the community built.
