WALK IN OUR SHOES

Create A Story About Walking In Someone Else’s Shoes Or Looking At The World Through Someone Else’s Eyes – And Make Sure It Connects To Mental Health Or Suicide Prevention. Your film could show the challenges that someone might face if they feel like they have lost their strength or reason for living. Or your film could teach people about mental health, how to get support or give support to someone dealing with a mental health challenge, how to build better mental health or the importance of using kind and accurate language around mental health.

Here are some ideas:

• How can putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes help us understand what they are feeling or going through? Why is empathy important?
• We talk a lot about physical health, but what does “mental health” mean?
• What is the difference between mental health and mental illness?
• Why can words like “crazy” be hurtful?
• How could you support a friend or classmate who is dealing with a mental health challenge?
• How could someone build better mental health?
• How can someone tell that a person may no longer want to live? What could an ordinary person do to help?
• What resources could you turn to for help if you or someone you knew was thinking about suicide?

Films Should Explicitly Be About Mental Health Or Suicide Prevention, Not Bullying. Bullying films do not fit this topic area unless you directly link how experiencing bullying affects someone’s mental health; showing a story about someone being bullied and saying “sorry” at the end does not educate viewers on mental health or how to build mental wellness. Historically, films focused solely on bullying have not scored high during the judging process.

Encourage Action! Your film should include at least one action that someone could do to help someone else and/or get help for themselves. Feel free to come up with your own actions, but here are some examples:

• Learn where to find support (like hotlines that are available 24/7 such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or the Soluna App).  Learn about resources here.
• Support someone going through a difficult time
• Change the words you use to talk about mental illness
• Speak up when others aren’t supportive
• Tell a trusted adult when you are worried a friend is thinking about suicide
• Start conversations about mental health on campus or with friends to make it easier for others to talk about what they’re feeling and to get support
• Don’t wait — reach out for help if you’re struggling or feeling hopeless.
• Remind something that they are never a bother.

Visit California’s youth suicide prevention campaign to learn about warning signs, steps to take to support a friend and what happens when you call 988 at www.NeveraBother.org.  Download flower graphics and more on the “Get Involved” page.

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

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

If your film is about suicide prevention there are additional messaging guidelines your film needs to consider.  Watch this short video to learn more!

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.

Tell A Story! Don’t just write a list of definitions but tell us the story of a person who is building better mental health.

Getting Better 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 save a life or recovery from a mental health challenge. 

Be Original!  If there is a film concept you think is cool, put your original take on it. We all have similar thoughts and feelings – even experiences – but your unique expression of those experiences is what makes you… you!  We know resources can be limited, but If you’re shooting a film at school is there a place other than a classroom, or hallway you could explore for your setting? 

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

Know Your Stuff: Check out these middle school age-appropriate educational resources for more information about mental health and suicide prevention:

Website: Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign Never a Bother
Website:  Seize the Awkward
Video: What Happens When You Call 988 Video 
Video: Suicide Prevention 101 Video 
Video: Suicide Prevention How to Help a Friend Video 
Video: Mental Health Continuum

Video: Mental Illness and Stigma Educational Film

• I am a middle school student.
• I reviewed one or more educational resources to help with the script and storyboard for my film.
• My film is about walking in someone else’s shoes or looking at the world through someone else’s eyes – and also about mental health or suicide prevention
• My film is not about bullying.
• My film is 60-seconds long.
• My film includes the required endslate.
• My film includes a title slide.  
• My film aligns with safe messaging guidelines and does not include statistics.
• 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 registered and submitted their signed release forms.