Pèse sur pause: a video series to help young people deal with their anxieties
Two pilot episodes of the Pèse sur pause series to help young people cope with anxiety.
The numbers are alarming: in 2020, 15% of teenagers were struggling with generalized anxiety. Against this backdrop, Pèse sur pause aims to become the go-to resource for Quebec’s 397,000 students, equipping them with tools for informed self-management of their mental health.
The worrying rise in anxiety among teenagers calls for innovative approaches. With that in mind, studio Sparkling and the organization La Clé des Champs presented two pilot episodes of the Pèse sur pause series.
The mission
1.
Create video capsules to equip and empower young people
2.
Offer content that’s accessible and understandable for 12- to 17-year-olds
3.
Make it easier for the organization to find financial partners
1. Designing a web series pilot that serves clear objectives
Working closely with the client, we clearly defined the pilot’s objectives before diving into the creation of the capsules. We wanted to raise awareness about anxiety among 12- to 17-year-olds by starting with the essentials: giving them the right definitions. The capsules needed to take the drama out of the subject while staying educational and entertaining.
The series also needed to be a professional, appealing tool so that La Clé des Champs could demonstrate its relevance within the mental health ecosystem. In producing a pilot, we of course had our sights set on producing a full series down the line.
2. Building a relevant, competitive content strategy for young people
At a time when young people are overwhelmed with information and virtual interactions, it’s crucial to have an approach that speaks their language. Pèse sur pause is a safe, playful, and accessible online learning space. We also needed a tone that would grab our audience’s attention.
Led by comedian Sébastien Haché, the pilot breaks down anxiety and distorted thinking into two distinct capsules, laying the groundwork for educational, compassionate communication.
With wild, offbeat direction from Félix Charest, the pilot episodes don’t hold back on the entertainment factor, essential for capturing a teenage audience. The editing is funny, lively, and colorful, just like the content teenagers love to watch on YouTube or TikTok.
3. Well-researched, relevant content on mental health
By producing two video capsules instead of just one, we approached anxiety from two angles, introducing the subject to 12- to 17-year-olds in different ways.
The first capsule covers anxiety in general terms and shows how it plays out in everyday life. The second tackles distorted thinking and how it can play tricks on us. Both approaches serve the same goal: empowering young people to recognize their own symptoms.
4. Equipping the mission with the right tools
With these two professionally made, funny, and accessible capsules, La Clé des Champs now has compelling assets in its portfolio to approach financial partners and carry this promising project forward.
Director: Félix Charest
Script and animation: Sébastien Haché
Production: Anne-Catherine Rioux and David Pieropan
Director of photography: Guillaume Lemay
Editing: Félix Charest, Guillaume Lemay
Project management, La Clé des Champs: Marc-André Thibault
Results
Mental health among young people
