Creative Works: a mental health awareness special

Bauer Media has launched a mental health survey which has revealed that 90% of the public say they still feel there is a taboo around discussing mental health, and has launched a petition calling on the government to make it a requirement for every workplace or college to have a mental health work aider in the UK – equal to the legal requirement for a physical first-aider.

The survey is part of Bauer Media’s campaign: ‘Where’s Your Head At?’ which surveyed readers and listeners from heat, Grazia, KISS, Empire, Magic and Absolute Radio in collaboration with mental health campaigner Natasha Devon MBE and the Mental Health First Aid (MFHA) England. The results of the survey will be brought to life during Mental Health Awareness Week (14th – 20th of May) with coverage across Bauer’s influential magazine, radio and online brands.

‘Where’s Your Head At?’ has support from Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and celebrities including: Liam Payne, Jamie Laing, Charlotte Crosby, Megan McKenna and Kem Cetinay who have all spoken openly about their personal struggles with mental health. Bauer is working to drive signatures on a petition at www.wheresyourheadat.org.

SANE, a leading mental health charity, is launching a national advertising campaign to encourage those struggling with depression to find their voice and call for help. Created by Iris, the integrated campaign will run across film (online & cinema), OOH and social. The film portrays a man being silenced by an unidentified intruder who covers his mouth as he struggles to answer the phone. The intruder is a metaphor for the man’s depression, who wants to stop him talking. The film ends with the line: 'Your depression doesn’t want you to talk. But we do.'

The social media campaign #LetMeTalk will see celebrities including Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax participate in a mass ‘day of silence’ on Twitter, with only the typing icon posted that day. After 24 hours the reason for their silence is revealed. On Instagram influencers will post images of themselves with a stranger’s hand across their face. The campaign film is subsequently shared with followers. The nature of depression can discourage people from talking about their illness, cutting them off from help. Yet research shows 69% of helpline callers found that talking to someone enabled them to cope better and feel supported, less anxious, and more in control. Through this campaign SANE is encouraging more people to get in touch.

James Arthur a SANE Ambassador, said: “People with depression tend to stay quiet about their condition. They shy away from sharing their struggles with colleagues, loved ones and friends yet it’s a proven fact that talking about your depression is often the way to defeat it”.

The campaign was created by advertising agency Iris, with the film shot by up-and-coming director Youness Benali through production company Sweetshop. The stills were shot by the award winning British photographer Rankin.

Research from the Campaign to End Loneliness (CTEL) reveals more than half of UK adults (54%) feel it has been a long time since they made a new friend. With loneliness and isolation on the rise, BMB and the CTEL have joined forces to resolve the problem - using the power of six year-olds.

CTEL and BMB sent out children accompanied by adults into a café where typically solitary and un-sociable people tend to keep themselves to themselves. With the help of hidden cameras, we filmed these adorable children approach young and old adults sat alone and ask to be their friend, as well as recording the resulting heart-warming conversations and interactions that were started.

The film launches Be More Us, a movement to inspire people of all ages to celebrate the things we share.  Be More Us is about taking time to connect, and celebrating small moments of connection - like saying hello to someone in your local shop or smiling at someone on the bus.

CTEL is asking everyone to inspire others to be more open and talk to others by sharing the film with the hashtag #BeMoreUs. We want to show that EVERYONE can easily connect with other people just like children do, and simply reaching out to each other can help stop loneliness in its tracks in the first place. Be More Us is a nationwide movement to inspire connection, tackle loneliness, and bring people together.

 

Mental Health Matters, we really need to start talking about it a lot more. I made this video on Oxford Street to show you that whatever it is you are going through people on the same road, around you, and in your area are going through similar things.

Keeping a mental state of mind can be extremely difficult, and therefore it really is ok not to be ok.

We need to work together as humans, friends, families, neighbours, to find therapeutic treatments and cures to help aid us through difficult times and NOT tell people to 'shrug it off'.

Most people assume that talking about mental health will elicit a weird reaction or response. But in reality, most friends are happy to listen and offer support. The campaign, 'Not That Weird,' taps into the power of unusual, visual metaphors, with the aim of normalizing mental health conversations for young people.

The first spot, 'Alone,' highlights how one student’s depression makes him feel like he’s locked in a deep-sea diving suit, a metaphor which manifests literally. In the second spot, 'Gnawing,' a shark gnaws on a young man’s arm, serving as a personification for his anxiety. In both spots, the weirdness doesn’t match up to each friend’s support and willingness to listen.

Through this approach, the campaign aims to break down barriers, helping young people feel more comfortable speaking out about their problems and reaching out to friends in need.

An #ImPerfect initiative against fake online facades

The Swedish insurance company Länsförsäkringar started a successful movement towards fake online facades that are causing low self-esteem and anxiety among teenagers. How? By turning influencers into human billboards – with a message against their own perfectionism.

Social media is damaging the mental health of Swedish teenagers due to constant comparisons with influencers and unattainable ideals. Länsförsäkringar, who in various ways are helping young people to grow and believe in themselves, wanted to shine a light on this and help teens see beyond all fake online facades. But teens wouldn’t listen to an insurance company…