Is what I'm doing helping me?

The free film making workshops run by SSPAN are carefully designed to include all aspects of filmmaking. From story creation to acting, filming, editing and post production these young people are creating a DVD about decision making.

At an event for Youth Awareness Week 7 participants gathered together to learn more about acting, scripting and producing a short film for publication as a DVD . Today was their first day.

"We acted out scenes with different outcomes, getting a feel for what's to come" said Aaron Mirto.

Research was conducted through peer surveys about what young people perceive to be mental health issues for them, what do they find helpful and what are the barriers for getting help.
Youth from the Ulladulla Youth Centre and the Bay and Basin Resource Centre became the youth focus group who reviewed the surveys and developed the script for the DVD.
Drama exercises were led by Tim Hudman, a psychologist from the Youth Mental Health, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISHLD).
Wendi Hobbs from Crossroads Youth Health, said "It's an amazing experience to work with such wonderfully talented young people. This is an example of the ISHLD working in partnership with the community to highlight issues of mental health with young people and enhance appropriate help seeking behavior".
Later this week Mindblank INC. are conducting professional acting and filmmaking workshops with these youths in order to complete the DVD for use as an educational resource.
Bruce Murphy, President of Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network commended Shoalhaven City Council on providing funding to assist in the development of this innovative and creative enterprise.