TULSA — The Child Mind Institute recognized Tulsa native Bill Hader for his work as a mental health advocate.
The institute announced Hader, an American actor, producer and director born and raised in Tulsa, is a recipient of one of the nonprofit's sixth annual Change Maker Awards, according to an official press release.
The awards "celebrate people and organizations creating real, meaningful change for children who struggle with learning and mental health disorders."
Hader is the recipient of the 2020 Champion Award for a video he made for a Child Mind Institute campaign in 2019. The video, "Anxiety and What I Would Tell #MyYoungerSelf," focused on helping kids cope with their daily anxiety experiences.
In his #MyYoungerSelf video, Hader spoke on experiencing 'really bad' anxiety since he was a young kid. Everything from tests to getting on a school bus, Hader said he experienced the constant thought of 'here are all the things that could go wrong'.
Hader explains he began to control his anxiety in his 30s once it started affecting his job as an actor on 'Saturday Night Live.' He describes how he learned to become 'friends' with his anxiety by recognizing it when it showed up, instead of pushing the anxious feelings away.
Hader said he is now better in social situations and doesn't live in so much fear. The video ends with encouragement from Hader, saying, "We got this!"
Hader thanked the Child Mind Institute for the honor saying:
Thank you to the Child Mind Institute. I’ve gotten more recognition from the [Child Mind Institute #MyYoungerSelf campaign video] than pretty much anything else I’ve done. The amount of people who’ve come up to me about that video – it’s not Stefan anymore. It’s now my anxiety video, which makes me incredibly proud! I’m happy that I can talk about these things and be public with it and that it helps people.”
The Child Mind Institute is a national nonprofit committed to changing the lives of families and children struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
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