Video takes aim at stigma and claims top prize
Children’s Mental Health Ontario and its Toronto region member agencies hosted Change the View – an anti-stigma YouTube video contest that was open to Ontario residents aged 13-25 to celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2010. The contest was designed to engage youth in raising children’s mental health awareness and reducing stigma. All videos were posted on our YouTube channel for public viewing. A total of 47 videos were submitted.
The video that won the $2,000 prize is entitled “Unmask the Stigma”; it was created by youth with identified or suspected mental illness, who have experienced its stigma. They are currently receiving services at the Syl Apps Youth Centre from Kinark Child and Family Services. The process of producing this video enabled the participants to humanize the illness and reduce the fear that surrounds it.
