Pèse sur pause: a video series to help young people deal with their anxieties

The figures are alarming: in 2020, 15% of teenagers were struggling with generalized anxiety. In that vein, Pèse sur pause aspires to become the benchmark for Quebec’s 397,000 students, equipping them with the tools they need to manage their own mental health.

The worrying rise in anxiety among teenagers calls for innovative approaches. With this in mind, the Sparkling studio and the La Clé des Champs presented two pilot episodes of the series Pèse sur pause .

The Mission

1.

Create capsules to empower young people

2.

Offer accessible and understandable content for 12 to 17 year-olds

3.

Facilitate the search for financial partners for the organization

1. Design a web series pilot that serves clear objectives

Together with the customer, we clearly defined the objectives of the pilot before embarking on the creation of the capsules. We wanted to raise awareness of anxiety among teenagers aged 12 to 17, starting with the basics and giving them the right definitions. The capsules had to play down the subject while being educational and entertaining.

The series also had to be a professional and attractive tool for La Clé des champs to demonstrate its relevance in the mental health ecosystem. By producing a pilot, we obviously have in mind to produce a whole series afterwards.

2. Establish a relevant and competitive content strategy for young people

At a time when young people are overwhelmed by information and virtual interaction, it’s crucial to have an approach that’s relevant to them. Weigh on pause is a secure, fun and accessible online learning environment. We also had to have a tone that would grab the attention of our audience.

Led by humorist Sébastien Haché, the pilot breaks down anxiety and erroneous thinking into two separate vignettes, laying the foundations for educational and caring communication.

With crazy direction by Félix Charest, the pilot episodes don’t skimp on the entertaining angle, essential for capturing the teenage audience. The editing is funny, lively and colorful, just like the content teenagers like to watch on YouTube or TikTok.

3. Researched and relevant mental health content

By producing two video vignettes rather than one, we’ve taken a two-pronged approach to anxiety, introducing the subject in a different way to 12- to 17-year-olds.

The first capsule takes a general look at anxiety and how it translates into everyday life. The second capsule deals with erroneous thinking and how it can play tricks on us. Both approaches serve the same purpose: empowering young people to detect their symptoms.

4. Equip yourself with the right tools for your mission

With these two professional, funny and accessible vignettes, La Clé des champs now has the sales elements in its portfolio to solicit financial partners for the continuation of this promising project.

Director: Félix Charest

Script and animation: Sébastien Haché

Production: Anne-Catherine Rioux and David Pieropan

Photo direction: Guillaume Lemay

Editing: Félix Charest, Guillaume Lemay

Project management, Clé des champs: Marc-André Thibault

Results

Mental health among young people

15%

Quebec teenagers with generalized anxiety disorder

19,5%

High school students with a medical diagnosis of a mental health disorder

397 000

Adolescents to be reached by the Quebec school system