SAN
FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Spoonful
of Laughter campaign is a national initiative using comedy to
educate about diabetes, counter harmful stereotypes and stigma, and
amplify authentic, respectful, and empowering representations of
people living with diabetes.
The Spoonful of Laughter campaign is a
national initiative using comedy to educate about diabetes and
reduce stigma.
The campaign is from the diaTribe Foundation, a nonprofit
dedicated to diabetes education and advocacy, and a leader in the
movement to end diabetes stigma.
"We don't want to lecture people into changing their
stigmatizing behavior, we don't believe that will be very
effective," said Matthew Garza,
Director of diaTribe's dStigmatize Program. "Instead, we want this
campaign to lead people, giggling, into a kinder and more joyful
future for all people affected by diabetes."
The campaign launched with six videos that showcase a wide
variety of comedy styles. The shorts highlight experiences that
people with diabetes know all too well, such as receiving a
diagnosis, managing hypoglycemia with candy, and encountering a
well-meaning stranger who doesn't quite "get" diabetes.
The campaign was co-created with advocates, artists, producers,
industry members, and five featured comedians (four of whom are
living with diabetes): Sam Morrison,
Kelsey Bascom, Kesha Carter, Justin
Eastzer, and Ashley Monique.
Media was directed and produced by Ben Jehoshua and Image Line
Productions. The campaign is supported with funding from Insulet,
the maker of Omnipod® (NASDAQ: PODD).
The videos are available to watch across diaTribe's social media
platforms, YouTube, and online at SpoonfulofLaughter.org.
diaTribe believes addressing diabetes stigma – the negative
social judgments, prejudices, and stereotypes associated with
diabetes – is an essential missing element of diabetes care.
Research shows that as many as 80% of people with diabetes report
stigmatizing experiences that lead to worse physical and mental
health outcomes and decreased diabetes management and self
care.
The current narratives and representations of diabetes in the
media are often inaccurate and contribute to this stigma. Still,
research shows that comedy is an effective tool for promoting and
amplifying the exact type of positive narratives needed to replace
those existing ones.
"Diabetes stigma is no joke," said Garza. "But we believe that
the antidote to that stigma is a great punchline."
Learn more and watch the videos at Spoonful of Laughter.
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SOURCE The diaTribe Foundation