A lot of last week’s World Mental Health Day content was predictable.
- Organisations with toxic workplace cultures posting about the importance of looking after yourself
- A sea of stock images showing people looking unhappy
- Plenty of generic advice with no emotional impact or real stories to bring it to life
I don’t mean to sound judgemental because I appreciate how far things have come in the past 30 years. And just to be clear, none of this is aimed at mental health charities.
I know not everyone’s an expert, but it’s such an important topic that deserves more than being an annual box-ticking exercise. We’re still a long way from seeing mental and physical health being thought of and treated in the same way.
Having said all that, one piece of content from Norwich City Football Club stood out and struck a chord with so many people worldwide.
Trigger warning: This video addresses themes of suicide and mental health.
There are many reasons why it’s so powerful, but for me, the main ones are:
- The video challenges preconceptions in an impactful way without resorting to graphic images or scare tactics
- It makes you think someone you know could be going through a tough time you’ve got no idea about
- The message stays with you long after watching
- The dialogue is spot on
It also shows what you can achieve by going against the grain, especially on global awareness days when there are so many messages on the same subject matter.
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