Shimi Cohen is a motion graphic designer and animator that I came across on vimeo. His videos use fast pace motion graphics to convey a message and some of them include a voiceover to tell the story of the video, meaning the viewer can listen carefully and follow the graphics on screen.

Below are four screenshots taken from three of his videos. Shimi uses a consistent colour scheme and similar, simple designs that make it visually appealing to watch.

Another video from Shimi “the innovation of loneliness” was shared in one of my workshops. Again, it uses facts and fast pace motion graphics to display the content and a voiceover to talk about it. The message being conveyed is well executed and explained, especially being a sensitive and meaningful subject. This is similar to my concept of mental health problems, and this video has given me some good tips and hints to creating a well designed, visually appealing factual video.

As stated in my last post, 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. 

This statistic sums up the reason for my project. Attention and help for mental health is not provided or made aware as much as it should be, especially to children and young people.

This is highlighted in the National Curriculum, where mental health is not particularly taught as part of the education specification.

Along with the National Curriculum framework, the Department of Education published guidance on PSHE education, stating that:

 ‘Schools should seek to use PSHE education to build, where appropriate, on the statutory content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic school curriculum and in statutory guidance on: drug education, financial education, sex and relationship education (SRE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.’

They do not state anything about teaching mental health education in the guidelines, which is the reason for my campaign video to get it introduced.

Although a recent petition has already been made for mental health education, it was unsuccessful, only raising half of the required signatures to be considered for debate in Parliament www.petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104545. There has also been many, many articles discussing the issue but there has been no significant progress to improving the situation.

My petition will hopefully gain national interest and support, getting more signatures because of the engaging, good quality campaign I will produce and market.

Statistics taken from the Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk):

• 1 in 10 children and young people suffer from a mental health problem.
• The most common health problems that affect children and young people are depression, self-harm, anxiety (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD and eating disorders.
• 20% of adolescents experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
• Surveys suggest that more children and young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago. This is due to the changes in growing up as a child – unhealthier diets, less exercise and outdoor play, more social and peer pressure in society etc.
• 10% of 5 to 16 year olds have a clinically diagnosable mental problem. However 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition that affects someones inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Common symptoms of ADHD include:

• a short attention span or being easily distracted
• restlessness, constant fidgeting or overactivity
• being impulsive

ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in the UK. Although the exact amount of people who have the condition is unknown, it is estimated that around 2-5% of children and young people are affected, being more common in boys than girls. It is thought that ADHD could be under-diagnosed in girls, as they often have symptoms that affect their attention rather than hyperactivity which is less noticeable.

ADHD is most common in people with learning difficulties, but can occur in people of any intellectual ability. Those with the disorder often suffer with additional problems such as anxiety and insomnia.

Symptoms of ADHD are usually first noticed at an early age. Most cases are diagnosed in children between the ages of  6 and 12, when a child’s circumstances change (e.g. when they start school).

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, however it is common to run in families, and research has identified a number of possible differences in the brains of people with ADHD compared to those who don’t have the condition. Other factors that have been suggested as having a role in ADHD include: being born prematurely, having a low birthweight and smoking, alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy.

There is no cure for ADHD, but with educational and parental support, advice and medication it can be managed.

Some of the day-to-day issues that arise with children living with ADHD include:

• getting to sleep at night
• getting ready for school on time
• listening to and carrying out instructions
• being organised
• social occasions
• shopping

Eating disorders are recognised by having an abnormal attitude towards food affecting their eating habits and behaviours.

Types of eating disorders:

• anorexia nervosa – a person that tries to keep their weight as low as possible, whether this means by starving themselves or exercising excessively
• bulimia – a person that goes through periods of binge eating but then feels guilty in themselves, so deliberately makes themselves sick or uses laxatives to control their weight
• binge eating disorder – a person who feels obliged to overeat large amounts of food in a short space of time

Causes of an eating disorder:

• having a family history of them
• feeling pressured to be skinny, may be through society or a job
• being criticised for your weight, body shape or eating habits
• certain underlying characteristics – anxiety, low self-esteem, being a perfectionist
• personal experiences – sexual or emotional abuse, bereavement, relationship problems
• stressful situations

In 2015, a report by Beat estimated that more than 725,000 people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder. Around 1 in 250 women and 1 in 2000 men will experience anorexia at some point, and this condition usually  develops around the age of 16 or 17. Bulimia is two or three times more common than anorexia, where 90% of people who suffer are female, developing around the age of 18 or 19. Binge eating affects males and females equally, starting later in life between the ages of 30 and 40. It is estimated that this affects 5% of the adult population.