Topic: Mental Health

Me, Myselfie and I – John is falling behind at school, ignoring his mates and neglecting his girlfriend – all because he’s become obsessed with maintaining his online persona. He spends so much time on his phone, he eventually becomes trapped inside it. Literally.

A re-telling of the Greek myth of Narcissus for the social media age.

A film by Alastair Collinson.

Alastair was invited on to The Victoria Derbyshire Show to be part of a panel discussing social media’s impact on young people as a result of the film. Clips were featured on the show and on BBC World News.

Me, Myselfie and I

Video length - 11.59

Published date - Jan 2019

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

An Untold Story – Robyn is a young filmmaker from a small town in Scotland. She is used to telling other people’s stories, but has never put her own on camera. So in this film, she describes how she came to realise that she was gay, the initial shame she felt (and was made to feel) before proudly accepting herself for who she is.

An Untold Story

Video length - 08.50

Published date - Jan 2019

Keystage(s) - 4

Fine – Joe returns to school after his mother’s funeral, and has to cope with his bereavement surrounded by friends who don’t understand what he’s going through, and teachers who are unsure how to help him.

A film by Emily May Smith.

With thanks to Portsmouth Grammar School.

If someone close to you has died, or if a friend is trying to cope with the death of someone they knew, you can find support and guidance at Child Bereavement UK.

Fine

Video length - 10.31

Published date - Sep 2018

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

One-to-One – James has been outed at school before he could come out on his own terms, and he’s afraid of what his parents will say when they discover he’s got a boyfriend. With everything getting too much for him, James visits his youthworker to talk it all out, one-to-one.

A short coming-of-age drama by Toby Lloyd and Conor Deedigan.

Nominated for the Teen Award at the Children’s BAFTAs 2019.

One-to-One

Video length - 13.25

Published date - Sep 2018

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

Living With ADHD – Matteo has ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – which means that he’s very active and very excitable (which can be good), but it also means that he finds it hard to concentrate, forgets things easily and has little sense of danger (which can be bad). Matteo’s Mum wants him to take medication which will help him at school, but his Dad is worried that it will affect his chances of becoming a professional rugby player.

Directed by Lucia Clements and made during the BFI Film Academy’s documentary filmmaking residential course run by our friends at VividEcho.

Living With ADHD

Video length - 06.42

Published date - Jun 2018

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

Reply With A Full Stop If You Get This – Emily is a poet and a teacher, and has bipolar disorder. It’s a mental health illness that means she can feel very down or very up for no reason whatsoever. With eloquence and humour she describes how it feels, how she manages it, and how she’d like society to be more understanding and accepting of mental health disorders.

A film by Adam Tyler.

Winner of the Educational Film Award (from other organisation or individual) at the Learning On Screen Awards 2019.

Nominated in the Content for Change category at the BAFTA Children’s Awards 2018.

Advice for young people about mental health can be found at the following sites:

Reply With A Full Stop If You Get This

Video length - 10.32

Published date - May 2018

Keystage(s) - 3, 4 and 5

Downloadable resources

I Am Dyslexic – A dyslexic pupil falls into a world made entirely out of books. All alone, he faces the mountain of education.

An award-winning animation by Mads Johan Øgaard and Katie Wyman.

I Am Dyslexic

Video length - 05.58

Published date - Mar 2018

Keystage(s) - 2 and 3

The Perfect Body – Sam’s life is turned upside down when he falls for the new girl at school. Convinced that she’ll never notice him unless he has the perfect body, he hires a personal trainer. A short comedy drama about love, muscles and a lot of eating.

The Perfect Body

Video length - 06.38

Published date - Apr 2017

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

Connections – Lots of people describe themselves as “spiritual” even if they aren’t religious, but what does that mean? In this beautiful film, six very different people describe how they connect with something beyond themselves – through craft, dance, performance, prayer, writing, helping others, and exploring the natural world. In each case, finding something they love to do has helped them find themselves and given their lives a purpose.

Courtesy of Spiritual Companions Trust.

Connections

Video length - 08.22

Published date - Apr 2017

Keystage(s) - 3, 4 and 5

Downloadable resources

Brave – Lots of us face challenges that no-one else can see. Mental health problems can be hard to understand, but just being there for a friend is the first step.