What if we treated mental health like clean water or public transit—essential infrastructure that supports every part of society?
As Mental Health Awareness Month wraps up, it’s a question worth asking, and it’s something that’s central to our work.
Viewing mental health as civic infrastructure means recognizing it as essential to community well-being—on par with roads, schools, or water systems—and reframing it from a personal issue to serving as a foundation for healthy, equitable, and resilient societies.
Across California and beyond, bold behavioral health investments are transforming how public health systems support youth mental health and well-being. Governments and nonprofits are investing in behavioral health not just as a crisis response, but as a core system that strengthens communities. At Wondros, we’re proud to help bring that shift to life through storytelling, research, and campaigns that put people at the center of policy.
From statewide initiatives recruiting Certified Wellness Coaches, to programs building youth resilience, to efforts increasing transparency across complex systems—our partners share a common commitment: putting people first.
Here are a few partnerships we’re proud to highlight:
Across these partnerships, we’ve seen a growing demand for transparency, audience-centered design, and culturally competent outreach. This throughline has informed and shaped each of the projects below.
Expanding the Frontlines of Care
California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)—Certified Wellness Coach Campaign
Nearly half of California’s youth are struggling with their mental health and well-being. That stat is a sobering call to action. It’s also a reminder that our systems can’t just react to crisis. They must be built to support people before they fall through the cracks.
To help California meet the moment of its $4.7B Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), Wondros launched a statewide campaign to introduce and recruit Certified Wellness Coaches—a new frontline role focused on prevention, connection, and early support.
Wondros developed the campaign’s brand identity, designed the official website (cawellnesscoach.org), and led public outreach across the state.
As of May, 2025, the campaign has successfully helped recruit and certify over 2,000 Wellness Coaches statewide—bringing capacity to communities that need it most.
Our community engagement team has been introducing the program to potential CWC candidates throughout California.
Empowering Healthy Behaviors
RADical Hope Foundation—Storytelling for Young Adult Mental Health Education
Founded by a family who tragically lost their son to suicide, RADical Hope is on a mission to strengthen emotional resilience among young adults. Wondros partnered with them to produce a video series for the launch of RADical Health, a skills-based curriculum developed in partnership with New York University (NYU) for college students.
Featuring voices like New York Times bestselling author Glennon Doyle, the videos bring the curriculum to life by exploring key topics in mental health—from identity and self-care to meaningful connection—through compelling interviews and relatable stories. Each episode is paired with practical resources and guided peer discussions to cultivate safe, inclusive spaces for learning and support. Since its launch, the program has scaled to 70+ campuses and reached more than 20,000 students nationwide.
Learn more at radicalhopefoundation.org.
Designing for Access
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)—Research and Service Design
In Los Angeles County, the largest public health system in the nation, access is everything—but for too many residents, care remains confusing or out of reach. Wondros partnered with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) to better understand these barriers and design ways to improve how services are delivered and experienced.
Through more than 30 in-depth interviews with clients, and frontline staff, we gathered a nuanced view of motivations, frustrations, and needs that shape how people engage with the mental health system. We then facilitated a mapping and co-design workshop with LACDMH staff to synthesize these insights and surface actionable opportunities.
The work pointed out four critical areas for growth:
1) Positioning LACDMH as a trusted, visible source of support
2) Streamlining communications to foster trust, reduce confusion and build confidence
3) Increasing transparency around available services and how to access them
4) Redefining the client-provider relationship to balance autonomy with care
By embedding human-centered design methods into the process, we not only helped uncover where the system was falling short—we helped the County build capacity to continually improve it.
Making the System Visible
California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) & Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)—Stakeholder Education and Engagement Video Series
Even the most thoughtfully designed mental health system can fall short if people don’t understand how to navigate it. Wondros partnered with the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) to address this through “Mental Health Services 101,” a public-facing video series. This work was especially urgent in 2023, as communities continued to feel the emotional impact of the pandemic. The series was designed to build trust, increase transparency, and help residents access the support they need.
In collaboration with agency staff, Wondros identified key topics and misconceptions, then wrote and produced a set of short, educational videos tailored for a general audience. Blending personal storytelling, motion graphics, and plain language, each video breaks down complex services into something clear, human, and actionable.
The result: a powerful tool that helps LA County residents better navigate mental health service options—and take the first step toward care.
A Few Takeaways
What We’ve Learned from Behavioral Health Campaigns
Keep your audience at the center of everything you do.
Effective mental health communication starts with one question: Who are we trying to reach, and what matters to them? We blend market data with human-centered research—focus groups, interviews, and surveys—to uncover what drives trust, action, and connection. Then we test before we build. This approach ensures we’re creating the right message, at the right moment, for the right people.
Cultural nuances matter.
Mental health beliefs vary widely across cultures and generations. A message that works for one community might fall flat, or backfire, in another. For example, older Latino audiences may prefer private, faith-based conversations and avoid government touchpoints. We meet people where they are, not where we assume they’ll be.
There’s no one-size-fits-all.
Different topics require different campaign strategies. Launching a new workforce? That takes mass awareness and hyper-targeted outreach. Tackling stigma? That’s peer voices, local partners, and earned trust over time. Different goals require different playbooks—and we tailor every campaign accordingly.
Don’t just inform. Move people.
Facts are forgettable. Emotion is not. If you want your campaign to land, make it human.
Make it matter. Make it stick.