Newsletter Article

Streetwear Designers Collaborate to Amplify Suicide Prevention Month Campaign 

Key staff: Jessica Watts, Senior Program Manager  

 

In September, as part of CalMHSA’s support for counties during Suicide Prevention Month, two high-profile influencer collaborations helped amplify this year’s theme of “Love Over Loneliness.” 

Streetwear designers Justin Mensinger and Khanh Ngo partnered with CalMHSA and counties to share the stigma reduction messages through their broad-reaching networks; counties received Justin’s collection sweatshirt and Khanh’s collection t-shirt to share with their own communities.  

Justin Mensinger competed on the HBO Max design competition The Hype, which he won in 2021. Throughout the competition, he championed mental health and suicide awareness with many of the messages he embroidered into his pieces.  

Khanh Ngo launched is streetwear designs online in 2019 and later landed a job working for Levi’s. He uses his designs to tell the stories that that have shaped him — of his own personal, familial and community struggles. 

Suicide Prevention Month social media messages, including Khanh’s and Justin’s accounts, generated thousands of Instagram and Facebook impressions. 

October 18, 2024