Dear Judge,

We encourage you to seek personal support if you become troubled by the content of this category. If you experience an emotional crisis, there are people available to help you by calling or texting 988 for the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The entry you are judging is a 60-second film in the Mental Health category. Mental health is a complex and sensitive subject that needs to be addressed with compassion and knowledge. This category has special content that must be included and specific content that must be avoided for the safety of and respect for the audience.

At any point if you are experiencing technical difficulties with the website, or have questions regarding the category description, please email Dori@directingchange.info.

In advance, we appreciate your time.

Title

Silencing Self Doubt

Grade

10

A note from the youth artist about their submission

A mental health short film

1. Does the film tell a story that encourages young people to reach out for support when they need it and/or shows them how to support others?

• Talk openly: The film can emphasize that it is acceptable to talk about mental health challenges, and to support friends and loved ones with such challenges.
• Stand up for others: The film can demonstrate the importance of young people standing up for themselves or those living with a mental health challenge who are being harassed, bullied, and excluded or in some other way discriminated against. This may also include interactions in online communities (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, texting).
• Be Supportive: Show ways in which friend or family members can support someone experiencing a mental health challenge.
• Get the facts and understand the issue: The film could illustrate that a diagnosis of mental illness does not define a person and/or debunk the negative misconceptions about mental illness.
• Don’t wait to get help: The film can let people know that there is help out there for people living with a mental illness. That treatment and support work and that most people who experience a mental health challenge can recover especially if treated early.

2. Does the film communicate a message that inspires the viewer to take action?

Think of it this way: Does the film offer the viewer specific suggestions of what they can do? Does the film encourage the viewer to feel, act or think differently? We would like the films to be action oriented and encourage change and support. For example, where to get help, how to offer support to someone, how to get involved or learn more information. We have asked our young filmmakers to be creative: Don’t just tell someone what to do, but show them how to do this.

3. Is the film about young people (ages 12-25)?

4. Does the film consistently use person-first language, which refers to people who are living with mental health challenges as part of their full-life experience, not people who are defined by their mental health challenges?

(Mark “Yes” if the film uses appropriate “person-first language”)

Person first language respectfully puts the person before the illness and reinforces the idea that those who experience mental health challenges are not defined by their condition. Using person-first language helps steer clear of stigmatizing language that may lead to discriminatory ideals.