Solent students create films to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week

Second year TV production students have been working with NHS staff and patients from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a set of videos focussing on raising awareness of mental health in time for Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May).

Last October Kate O’Driscoll, Senior Lecturer, TV Production at Solent approached Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to see if they would be interested in working with TV Production students for their module Live Briefs and Professional Practice 2. The brief that the team came back with was for the students to create a number of films that would raise awareness of mental health issue and highlight some of the available services.

Seven highly creative videos have been produced featuring subjects such as peer support workers, safe havens available for people in a self-defined mental health crisis, working in mental health, education tool for schools for supporting boys with mental health as well as a user’s guide to physical health checks for those patients with severe mental illness. The results are not only an excellent example of real-world learning for the students, but highly creative films that will form part of Southern Health’s Mental Awareness Week campaign running 9-15 May 2022. The experience has also given the students an insight in mental health and the services available for people in Southampton and across Hampshire.

Below image: students filming interviewee

Kate O'Driscoll, Senior Lecturer, in TV Production, says: “The result is a powerful collaboration between the students, the NHS and volunteer organisations, and individuals within the community. Embedding this kind of real-world learning within the curriculum empowers the students to take ownership over their work, engages them with the wider community, and accelerates their professional learning. The students have risen to the challenge of delivering challenging content, to tight deadlines, and producing work of an extremely professional standard. They have shown a degree of maturity, creative flair and commitment that bodes well for their success in their future careers”.

Andrea Gammelgard, second year student at Solent commented: “This project has been a great way for us to gain experience and understand what it’s like to work with real clients. Our lecturers have been there to help us with any issues we had and gave us feedback on how to improve our video. I’ve learnt how to work professionally with clients, how to communicate and plan effectively and how to work together as a team to overcome any challenges we faced during this process. Overall, this project has been really exciting and a great learning experience. “

Dr Steve Tomkins, Chief Medical Officer, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, went on to say: “I have been so excited and indeed moved to see the creative ideas the students have come up with to raise awareness of vital mental health issues. As a trust we have been impressed by their professional approach to the projects and their empathic approach to the sensitive nature of the content. I really welcome this collaboration with local community groups; it is fundamental that as healthcare providers we continue to build collaboration with our community partners. The students can be proud that their project will help others to get the support they need."

The videos premiered at a official launch event on Thursday 5 May hosted by Solent University where students, staff and patients involved were able to meet to view the final versions. 

View the videos here: