RCSI & IADT launch new Youth Mental Health animation series
A new animation series telling the stories of young people's experiences of mental health challenges has launched.
The series was informed by research conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), and produced by animation students at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT).
The series is being launched and promoted in collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and SpunOut.ie.
What is the series about?
In 2013, RCSI carried out The Mental Health of Young People in Ireland study which found one in two young people will experience significant mental health difficulties by the age of 25, and one in three by age 13. Since responding to early signs of poor mental health is known to be one of the key factors in improving mental health, RCSI decided to run the Youth Mental Health Animation Project to give young people an understanding of their own mental health, and give them the information needed to seek help.
The five part animation series, designed by RCSI alongside the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) features voices and stories from young people aged 18 to 21. The young people who contributed their stories were picked from a larger study and interviewed about their experiences and mental health. Each animation is made up of responses from the young people interviewed, but is portrayed as though from the perspective of one person.
The Animations
Each animation in the five part series has a different theme related to experiences which were commonly reported by young people in the study by RCSI.
The themes are; anxiety, depression, feeling different, bullied and loneliness.
This animation was created by Charlotte Connolly, Hollie Hamel, Anna Hoare, Cassandra Sierevogel, Aisling Smith.
This animation was created by Sabine Jansone, Beren McCormack, Conor McNally, Jessie Desmond Schmidt, Key Woodlock
This animation was created by Joshua Brown, Chloe O'Hara, Krizsha Perocho, Iobhar Stokes Rodriguez, Sarah Whyte.
This animation was created by Conor Doyle, Daniel McNicholl, Saoirse Mitchell, Charles-Henri Sanson.
This animation was created by Sarah Benson, Rory Martin, Jack McHugh, Giorgia McKenna, Carylle Sanchez.
Who are the animations for?
The animations are aimed at young people aged 12 to 25, as well as at parents and educators who have an interest in young people’s mental health. SpunOut.ie have partnered with RCSI, IADT and the HSE to promote the animations to young people across Ireland.
The project aims to give young people an understanding of mental health, as well as being a series of resources young people can relate to. The animations encourage young people to seek help for anything they may be struggling with and aims to make them aware that it is okay not to feel okay.