The days of "just say no" and fear-based health messaging are behind us. Today’s college students navigate a complex landscape of social pressures, digital influence, and diverse identities that require a more nuanced, inclusive, and empowering approach to their health. This session explores how VCU is reimagining public health outreach by showcasing a model centered on health equity, fun, and student agency. Attendees will dive into the strategies used to tackle sensitive topics—including sexual health, substance use, and mental health—through a lens that validates student experiences rather than pathologizing them. Participants will also get an in depth look in the "behind the scenes" of VCU's Stall Seat Journal, an award winning public health campaign.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn:
- Learn how to use data in a fun & compelling way to address students’ misperceptions about their peers’ health behaviors.
- Discuss using a social norms marketing approach to foster a healthier campus culture.
- Practice creating positive, intentional, & empowering messages to encourage safer health behaviors among diverse students.
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