u003cimg class=u0022podpic alignleft wp-image-3147 size-mediumu0022 src=u0022https://makeitok.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4.4.3-Iowa-Logo-300×300.webpu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eThe Healthiest State Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven by the goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. They work to inspire Iowans and their communities to improve their health and happiness by engaging with worksites, communities, schools, retail food, organizations, institutions, and individuals.rnrnMake It OK got its start in Iowa when HealthPartners Unity Point Health sponsored the Mental Health: Mind Matters exhibit at the Science Center of Iowa in 2019. The exhibit used hands-on activities and immersive multimedia experiences to help visitors explore mental illness and its prevalence. Within the Mind Matters exhibit, there were references to Make It OK that introduced the campaign and encouraged community involvement. “I knew the work couldn’t just start and end there with the Mind Matters exhibit. We had to continue the conversation around stigma and make something statewide to really help reduce the stigma and address the issue broadly,” said Jami Haberl, Executive Director of Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.rnrnThe Healthiest State Initiative prioritized mental health and well-being as a top priority, especially after seeing it rise to the top in a 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Community leaders were brought together to discuss the importance of investing in mental health and recognized that the conversations around stigma and access to mental health services needed to be happening at the same time.rnrnThe formal launch of Make It OK in Iowa was tied to the Healthiest State Initiative conference which took place in May of 2019, during Mental Health Awareness Month. Within months of the launch, a steering committee was developed to guide the roll out of the Make It OK campaign in Iowa. In September of 2019, the Healthiest State Initiative held its first Ambassador training. Today, they have trained over 1,012 Make It OK Ambassadors. They also have 334 registered Make It OK workplaces, reaching approximately 232,655 Iowans, with an additional 6,300 Iowans reached through monthly community-facing presentations.rnrnThe Healthiest State Initiative describes the campaign as an entry point into the mental health space, highlighting the ease with which it can be shared with others. Jami emphasized the importance of building and maintaining momentum of Make It OK in Iowa communities by saying, “If we can reach the four out of five Iowans that don’t have a mental illness and encourage them to have caring conversations, we win.”rnu003cp style=u0022text-align: center;u0022u003eu003ca class=u0022btnu0022 href=u0022https://www.iowahealthieststate.com/make-it-oku0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eVisit Make It OK Iowa to learn moreu003c/au003eu003c/pu003e