Living with OCD
A PSA based on reducing the stigma of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
This PSA was created for the sole purpose of spreading awareness and reducing stigma around the topic of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is a mental health condition that is characterized by obsessive and compulsive behavior that is performed repeatedly. The obsessive characteristic is usually not visible, as it shows up in one's intrusive, negative thoughts. My target audience for this PSA is preteens and teenagers ages 11 to 17 years old who may be afraid to speak up about having these symptoms because they might be judged by their peers. This PSA is also meant to educate preteens and teenagers who are not diagnosed with OCD in order to diminish the stigma, myths, and stereotypes about this mental health condition.
I initially chose this condition because it isn't talked about enough. Many of us may actually know someone who struggles with OCD on a daily basis and we don't even know it. When I hear mental health, my mind automatically jumps to anxiety, depression, and bi-polar disorder. There are many more mental health conditions that are common and important to learn about. It is important to understand what they are, what behaviors to be mindful of, and how to support someone with any mental health condition. Mental health is no longer frowned upon. It is something that we all have to get acclimated to.
My process for this project is mainly explained inside my milanote. I had ideas for how I wanted to shoot this video to visually express the mental exhaustion, the intrusive thoughts, and the compulsive behaviors that people with OCD deal with day to day. I used a different range of shots for visual expression of the compulsions, frustration, and exhaustion. I used many layers of audio to include the water running when the actor was washing their hands, the unwanted thoughts that loops in the mind, and background music for added effect. I used phrases like "wash three times", "keep scrubbing", and "my hands are filthy". The next scene is of the actor fixing their hair saying things like "fix your hair", "it has to be even", and "it looks ugly". Then you see the actor squeezing their hands against their head in frustration and dropping to the ground. The last 15 to 20 seconds of the video display some common myths and actual facts about OCD. There is also a website displayed at the end of the video as a call to action for more information. By the way, the actor in this video is not actually diagnosed with OCD. Thanks for watching!
Use the link below to view my Mood Board:
https://app.milanote.com/1RN3yq1Pjl188h?p=L1Ht7V4yL5j