THROUGH THE LENS
OF CULTURE

When it comes to mental health and suicide prevention, culture can influence how we talk about these topics, whether or not we seek help, what kind of help, and how we find strength and healing. 

For this category, we define culture very broadly as the characteristics and perspectives of a particular group of people, united by things such as language, ethnicity, nationality, religion, cuisine, social habits, sexual orientation, shared experiences, music, arts, and more. 

Through the Lens of Culture films should explore suicide prevention or mental health through the lens of a particular culture. A film might do a wonderful job in presenting information about or from the perspective of a particular culture, but does it also make a connection to how one’s culture or community influences help-seeking, suicide prevention, mental health, mental illness, how we heal or cope with tought times, and/or  stigma related to mental illness? 

Films are encouraged in all languages.  All films in this category have to include captions in English.

Your film should send a positive message about the importance of supporting others and how we can play a vital role in ensuring that all young people, regardless of their culture or group association, get the help they need. Below are a few examples, but for all options, think about how you want people who watch your film to feel, think, or act differently.

• Explore How Reducing Mental Health Stigma And Encouraging People To Seek Help Might Look Different Depending On Our Culture And The Way We Were Brought Up. Your film could dispel myths and misconceptions about mental health and suicide prevention that might be prevalent in a particular culture and show that seeking help is not shameful, mental illnesses are common and treatable, and recovery is possible.

• Explore Generational Differences. The way we think about and talk about mental health and suicide can be influenced by generational differences between grandparents and parents, or parents and children. To educate an older generation about the warning signs of suicide, acceptance, or about the importance of supporting young people’s mental health and getting help, you might want to consider creating your film in their primary language and think about specific views and terms about suicide or mental health that they have grown up with.

• Demonstrate How Cultural Groups And Community Can Provide Support And Strength. Traditions, healing practices, and other support from our culture and community can be protective and positively impact our mental health.

• Inspire Action. Be creative and create a message that will inspire positive action about mental health or suicide prevention within a cultural group. We want the films to be action-oriented and encourage change and support, such as learning where to get help, how to offer support to someone, or how to get involved and learn more information. Some examples:
  • If you are creating a film from the perspective of the LGBTQ community, you can recommend individuals to join a GSA club.
  • If your film is about a faith community, encourage faith leaders to be aware of the warning signs of suicide and more accepting of people with mental illness. Suggest specific resources available within your faith community.
  • If your film is about generational differences, share what you wish your parents or other adults knew about what life is like as a young person and how you would like adults to support a young person’s mental health.

It is okay to talk about how life problems and cultural factors may impact a person’s ability to talk about their problems or seek help, or factors that increase a person’s risk for suicide such as family issues (pressure to succeed, acculturation, gender identity) or social issues (bullying, break-ups). It is also okay to talk about these issues and life problems as possible contributing factors to why a young person might be feeling hopeless, drinking more, or isolating themselves (which are warning signs for suicide), but the film should not point to just one of these events as the cause of suicide or mental illness.

All films have to consider language guidelines when messaging about this topic. Ignoring these guidelines can cause you to lose valuable points.

All films in this category need to include captioning. Films are encouraged to be submitted in languages other than English, but all films in this category must include captioning, even if the film is in English.

If the film is in English, captioning is required to allow for the wide dissemination of the film to all people including communities such as the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or English Language Learners. If this film is in another language or uses American Sign Language, we need to make sure all judges can adequately evaluate the film. These films will be used in a variety of settings and evaluated by a panel of judges. To assist the judging process, knowing that it will be difficult to have a panel of judges for each language, films must have English captioning to assist in the fair scoring of films.

Films cannot use terms like “crazy” and “psycho” without explicitly communicating to the audience that these terms are unacceptable. Films should not reinforce stereotypes and labels that could keep people from seeking help. If the film does not verbally communicate that using derogatory terms is unwelcome, the film will be disqualified. Our recommendation is to avoid labels of any kind to keep the message positive. 

Some labels to avoid are:

• Mentally ill
• Emotionally disturbed
• Crazy
• Cuckoo
• Insane
• Manica
• Lunatic
• Odd

Films must 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. Using person-first language respectfully puts the person before the illness. Using person-first language helps steer clear of stigmatizing language that may lead to discrimination.

Additional Resources:

Website: Disability Rights California has information on stigmatizing words and how to avoid using them.

Submissions that include this type of content, or ones that are deemed to contain inappropriate content, will be disqualified. 

Films Should Be Careful Not To Accidentally Reinforce Stereotypes of People Living With A Mental Health Challenge such as: being dangerous or violent, disabled or homeless, helpless, or being personally to blame for their condition. Although popular culture and the media often associate mental illness with crimes or acting violently, people living with mental illness are more likely to be victims of crime. It is important to avoid perpetuating myths and stereotypes in order to produce an accurate, respectful, and mindful film.

The Film Should Not Include Portrayals Of Suicide Deaths Or Attempts Or Items That Could Be Used in A Suicide Attempt. This includes, but is not limited to, a person jumping off a building or bridge, or holding a gun to their head). Portraying actions related to suicide attempts and showing items someone might use for a suicide attempt even in dramatization, can increase the chances of an attempt by someone who might be thinking about suicide and exposed to the film.

Be Creative and Cautious: There are other ways to demonstrate that someone is thinking about suicide without showing a weapon or other items used in an attempt. Can you convey the sentiment you are seeking without showing this? In general, it is best to avoid showing images of ways people might attempt suicide, especially weapons. If you are considering showing items someone might use for a suicide attempt in your film, we strongly encourage you to think about the purpose and benefit of including this in your film.

Do Not Use AI.  The use of AI to create any part of your film (including but not limited to: script, background, editing, etc.) is not permitted and will lead to the disqualification of your film.   AI models are based on millions of images, including artists’ work, and therefore this is not considered to be original work. As artists, storytellers and filmmakers we ask that you act with honesty, integrity and respect as you create your films for this contest.

It is at the discretion of the program team to disqualify films that are deemed to have a potentially harmful message or image or that are not sensitive to racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, and gender differences, with all individuals realistically and respectfully depicted.

It is important to note that all of the submission requirements that are part of the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health categories still apply but with an additional level of complexity and creativity focused on culture.

Films Should Avoid Sending The Message That Any Particular Culture Is More At Risk For Suicide Or More Likely To Develop Mental Illness. People from all cultures and walks of life are affected by mental illness and suicide. It is important that the message of the film does not reinforce negative stereotypes. For example, the film should not insinuate that just by being part of a culture or group, a person is more likely to attempt suicide or have a mental illness. By inappropriately using data or making generalizations, the film might inadvertently increase stigma or reduce protective factors around suicide.

For example, avoid making statements that people from a particular group are more at risk of developing a mental illness or more likely to attempt suicide.

Remember that it is okay to talk about cultural factors that may impact a person’s ability to talk about their problems or that increase a person’s risk for suicide such as family issues (pressure to succeed, acculturation, gender identity) or social issues. It is okay to talk about these issues and life problems as possible contributing factors to why a young person might be feeling hopeless, drinking more, or isolating themselves (which are warning signs for suicide), but the film should not point to just one of these events as the cause of suicide. The truth is that not one of these events causes suicide and usually a person is dealing with multiple tough situations and is showing warning signs.

Connect Culture With Suicide Prevention Or Mental Health. This is a very competitive category. For your film to score high, it is important to connect culture with suicide prevention and mental health and to explore how the culture you choose to focus on influences openly talking about these topics among friends and family members, seeking help, and supporting others. 

For example, it is great to create a film in Spanish, Mandarin, or using sign language, but take it a step further and focus on cultural perspectives, cultural strengths, or cultural practices that might encourage people who are part of that culture to seek help or show how loved ones can support someone in distress. If you are going to attempt to make a film from the perspective of arts or dance culture (or something similar), it is not enough to show people creating art or dancing in your film; take it a step further and demonstrate how being part of these cultures can influence young people’s thoughts about suicide and mental health, getting help, offering support, and standing up for others.

Films Need To Be About Young People (12-25). The film does not have to solely focus on youth but youth need to have some kind of role or voice in the film. Young people often wait a long time from the time they first experience symptoms of mental illness to the time they get help. This delay can lead to the worsening of problems associated with stigma and increasing mental health challenges. It is important to create a film that speaks to youth and emphasizes that the sooner someone gets help, the less time a person suffers in silence.

Recovery Takes Time. Although picking up someone’s books when they fall is a nice metaphor, it often takes more than “a simple act of kindness” to help someone with a mental illness or thoughts of suicide get better. Remember that many people don’t know how they should respond to someone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or thinking about suicide. Use this opportunity to educate young people and others about what to do, such as seeking help from a trusted adult, or connecting to resources.

Be Original! Be inspired by winning films from the past, but don’t copy their ideas! Think about communicating the message in a way that will connect with other young people.

Music Matters: We receive a lot of entries that use the same music for their film.  Whenever possible, explore adding original music to your entry and check out some of the resources on our website.

Know Your Stuff:  Check out these educational resources for more information about mental health and suicide prevention:

• Video: “Mental Health Continuum” Educational Video
• Video: “Mental Illness & Stigma” Educational Video
• Website: Youth Suicide Prevention Website Never a Bother
• Video: Suicide Prevention 101 Video
• Video: Suicide Prevention How to Help a Friend Video
• Video: What Happens When You Call 988 Video

Download the Through the Lens of Culture Film Scoring Form

• I reviewed one or more educational resources to help with the script and storyboard for my film.
• My film communicates a message about mental health or suicide prevention that is hopeful and focused on what someone can do to reach out for help, connect others to help, or reduce stigma.
• My film is about the perspective of a culture or community and their experiences with mental health or suicide prevention.
• My film includes English captions.
• My film is 60 seconds long.
• My film includes the required end slate.
• My film includes a title slide.  
• My film aligns with language guidelines and does not include stigmatizing language.
• My film does not portray a suicide death or attempt.
• My film does not feature items that could be used in a suicide attempt.
• My entire cast and crew are registered and have submitted their signed release forms.