Integrated Broadcast and Online Campaign Offers Information and Guidance on

Abuse, Alcoholism, Anorexia, Bulimia, Depression, Drug Abuse and Self Esteem

    NEW YORK, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- ijane inc., a nonprofit production
 company that works to address public health issues through entertainment,
 today announced the launch of Face the Issue, an integrated broadcast and
 online public service campaign that aims to raise the awareness of common
 emotional and physical health issues faced by young people.
     An A-List roster of Hollywood's top female entertainers -- including Halle
 Berry, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Julianne Moore, Sarah
 Jessica Parker and Catherine Zeta-Jones -- have lent their support and their
 voices to the campaign by narrating different Face the Issue public service
 announcements (PSAs).  Targeted at adolescents and young adults, the Face the
 Issue PSA series features thought-provoking animations that deal honestly and
 openly with a wide range of today's most pressing emotional and physical
 health issues, including:
 
     *  Abuse (narrated by Halle Berry);
     *  Alcoholism (narrated by Nicole Kidman);
     *  Anorexia (narrated by Julianne Moore);
     *  Bulimia (narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones);
     *  Depression (narrated by Kate Hudson);
     *  Drug abuse (narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker); and
     *  Self-esteem (narrated by Jennifer Lopez).
 
     "Young people today face extraordinary challenges to their physical and
 mental well being, from anorexia and bulimia to depression and self-esteem,"
 said Jane Semel, ijane founder and chairman.  "Face the Issue aims to make a
 difference in young people's lives by providing a safe and confidential
 Internet destination for them so they no longer feel alone.  With talent of
 this caliber helping to raise awareness, we hope that the power and influence
 of the media and entertainment industry can be a positive force for change,
 assistance and support."
     Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore, said, "Although eating disorders,
 including anorexia, overwhelmingly affect girls and young women, it is also a
 growing problem for boys and young men.  In fact, over 86 percent of anorexia
 victims report an onset of the illness by the age of 20(1).  Because the PSAs
 specifically target this at-risk age group, Face the Issue is an important way
 to reach those who need attention and help most desperately."
     The PSAs, which began airing yesterday, will be broadcast regularly
 through the end of the year on Fox, MTV and the WB television network.  The
 three largest Internet destinations, Yahoo!, AOL and MSN, are also
 participating and will showcase the PSAs on their networks -- making them
 available to their massive Internet audiences.  With the support of these
 media partners, the Face the Issue PSAs are likely to be seen by hundreds of
 millions of people across the United States.
     The PSAs also encourage viewers to visit the Face the Issue website at
 www.facetheissue.com for more information about these issues, including
 warning signs, facts, statistics and contact information on where to turn for
 help.  The site allows visitors to view the PSAs and provides links to
 nationally recognized organizations that can provide more intensive support
 and information to young adults and their parents who may be dealing with
 these issues or want to help their friends, family or co-workers who are
 suffering from them.
     Conceived of and developed by ijane founder and chairman Jane Semel and
 ijane president Melanie Hall, Face the Issue represents the culmination of
 four years of work to bring this important campaign to life.  Aimed to
 circumvent the shame, secrecy and fear that often prevents young people from
 actively seeking help for these issues, the campaign works to help young
 people deal honestly with issues they may not be facing.
     Face the Issue supporter Joseph A. Califano, Jr., chairman and president
 of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia
 University, said, "Illicit abuse of substances among today's youth --
 including alcohol, tobacco and illicit and prescription drugs -- is a serious
 and often co-occurring problem that affects a large number of children, teens
 and young adults. The Face the Issue initiative is an important, high-profile
 way to prevent such substance abuse, help those who need treatment and alert
 parents and their children to both the early symptoms of the problem and ways
 in which to deal with it."
 
      Media Contact:
      Suzy Berkowitz
      Robinson, Lerer & Montgomery
      212-484-7228
      sjberkowitz@aol.com
 
     1.  National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
         Ten-Year Study, 2002
 
 

SOURCE  ijane inc.