Seize The Awkward is a campaign by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), The Jed Foundation (JED), and the Ad Council. Seize The Awkward aims to provide young people with tools and resources to help them reach out to their friends and start conversations about mental health. 

The #SeizetheAwkward Open Mic Night was created with the intention to cultivate a community of support by providing a space for students to share their stories of resilience through their art, song, or spoken word. The #SeizetheAwkward Open Mic Night aims to highlight mental health-related experiences, including but not limited to living with a mental illness, being in recovery, and surviving sexual assault and domestic violence. Submissions are open to students of all backgrounds and identities who would like to use their art to express themselves and inspire others in their mental and emotional well-being journeys. Educational videos will be displayed between acts to explain the signs of distress, provide tips on how to have a conversation with a friend who might be in distress, and share stories from public figures.