The Shift: Transforming Youth Mental Wellness for the Future
The Shift: Transforming Youth Mental Wellness for the Future
Things don’t get better if we don’t talk about them, especially when it comes to youth mental health. Sparking those conversations is at the heart of The Shift Productions, a community-focused company that champions mental health advocacy through dynamic content and meaningful partnerships.
With a collaborative approach that blends entertainment and youth advocacy, The Shift not only helps start essential conversations but guides them toward real, life-changing impact for the young people they advocate for.
Committed to Empowering Youth
The Shift Productions (also known as The Shift) was founded in 2019 in Los Angeles, inspired by the work of co-founder Mary Albertoli, a former social worker dedicated to helping struggling adolescents find their voice.
Driven by a desire to spark meaningful conversations around youth mental health, Mary joined forces with social impact content producers Maureen Isern and Nadia Sarmova.
Together, they launched The Shift and later, its sister organization, The Shift Foundation, with a shared mission: to empower young people through original content, events, and dialogue that foster understanding, connection, and real change. As their mission states, by starting these conversations, young people can live their best lives.
Collaborating with Partners to Drive Awareness, Action and Access
The Shift weaves awareness, action and access to resources into every project it produces. A key part of this work is building collaborative partnerships through a powerful network of allies.
The Shift has partnered with several leading organizations, such as NAMI WLA, Letters to Strangers, Crisis Text Line, Rise above the Disorder, MTV’s Mental Health Action Day, Teen Line, MHSOAC, Same Here Global, the City of Chicago, and the Producers Guild of America (PGA). These collaborations - and many more - have expanded the reach of their work, amplifying its mission to raise awareness for youth mental health and extend support across all ages.
One example: through its partnership with the Producers Guild of America, The Shift engaged filmmakers, short-form and impact storytellers alike during the Shifting Mental Health Storytelling: Digital Creators, Hollywood and Beyond panel, encouraging responsible storytelling on a broader scale.
The Benefits of the For-Good Business Model
When operating under a philanthropic mindset, businesses gain built-in internal and external motivation that transcends generating profits. This creates a strong alignment between the mission of the organization and its day-to-day operations. In practice, every decision thereafter will reflect a dedication to making a positive difference. In the case of The Shift, working in tandem with a nonprofit means that the organization’s mental health advocacy remains at its core, even as it continues to grow and innovate.
Beginning first with a philanthropic interest can feed directly into building a robust and sustainable company that will continue to reinforce its positive social impact in the world.
Foundation-partnered enterprises are more common than most people realize. This is especially true in Europe where it is the case for many well-known brands, including Lego, Ikea, Bosch, and Novo Nordisk.
Helping Brands Enter the Mental Health Conversation
As a creative consultant and collaborator, The Shift helps brands join and engage in mental health conversations through thoughtfully crafted content. By offering expertise on these important issues, The Shift empowers brands, filmmakers and studios to integrate mental health themes with authenticity and care. These partnerships and collaborations enhance both the creative development and audience engagement after release - resulting in stories that resonate with purpose and genuine impact.
Entering to Shift the Conversation
There are still so many people, especially young people, afraid to openly discuss struggles with mental health. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 19 years in the United States.
This heart-wrenching statistic highlights why creating openings to have these conversations and sharing responsible, helpful content is so important.
You can get involved by donating to The Shift Foundation, volunteering at a local nonprofit that offers youth support, or sharing some of The Shift’s content on YouTube and Instagram to spread awareness.
For anyone struggling with mental health issues, not feeling isolated and alone can be a major factor in whether they reach out for help. Remember, there are people out there who care.
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