7 out of 10 Young people Say
Mental Health Is Weighing Them Down.

That's why JanSport created #LightenTheLoad,
a new mission to connect people with real tools
to unpack the mental health crisis.

Strength Through Sharing

We asked young people across the country to give us a glimpse into
their mental health journey and how they #LightenTheLoad by sharing.
Watch the videos below to hear some of their unscripted stories.

Stories Behind The Screen

Jimmy

Jimmy is a theater major from Nebraska studying at Doane University. Jimmy shared with us how his sexuality has affected life at home, school, and beyond as he works to explore his own mental health. When asked why this campaign was important to him he replied, “I’ve found that being comfortable with talking about uncomfortable things, really unlocks a whole new world for you. I hope I can inspire more people to get to that place.”

Adi

Adi is a New Jersey native who recently finished studying at Goucher College in Baltimore. Adi bravely shared with us how her journey with mental health helped strengthen not only her sense of self, but also her relationships with others. When asked why she wanted to participate in this campaign Adi said, “in telling my story I hope that other people feel more comfortable reaching out when they need help.”

Bayan

Bayan is a student at Georgia Tech who has a passion for music and moonlights as a DJ in Atlanta. In his interview, Bayan unpacked the different ways being a 1st generation American has affected his experience with mental health, academics, and other pressures. When asked why he participated in this project Bayan reinforced how important it is to share your struggles, “if not for ourselves, then for other people.”

Anthony

Anthony is an aspiring musician from New York. His life experience moving across different cultures, schools, and passions gave him plenty of insights to explore in this series. When asked why this campaign was important to him he explained, “I hope someone will hear my story and if they can relate to it, it will help them in ways that help them find their strength.”

Mackenzie

Mackenzie is a writer, comedian, and content creator from New Jersey currently studying at Emerson College. She loves finding new ways to make her friends and followers have a good laugh. When asked why this campaign was important to her she said, “after i started talking about my mental health with people I realized it was really really therapeutic for me. I hope I can encourage other people to take that first step!”

Lighten the Load Live is a series of live conversations with real therapists who we've asked to unpack some of our biggest mental health questions. Watch our archived episodes below or find on JanSport's IGTV.

Whitney Goodman

Isolation

Matthew Dempsey

Compassion Fatigue

Whitney Goodman

Uncertainty

Nedra Tawwab

Family Relationships

7 out of 10 Young people Say
Mental Health Is Weighing Them Down.

Strength Through Sharing