Developing effective psychoeducational multimedia with and for young people

Abstract

Psychoeducational resources are vital for addressing mental health challenges. However, accessibility issues hinder their efficacy, especially for adolescents who struggle with conventional text-based formats. This study aims to enhance adolescents' emotional well-being by making emotional health education accessible. This is achieved by combining academic research on coping strategies with insights from documentary-style interviews to transform psychoeducational content into music videos for improved accessibility.

Through a process of facilitated participatory filmmaking, the collected information was transformed into publicly accessible multimedia – music video documentaries co-created with young adults. Informed by cognitive and multimedia learning theories, this process was carried out in collaboration with the intended young audiences. Themes emerged through feedback from film protagonists and audience members, shaping iterative designs.

Six successive designs were developed, encompassing blog-style videos, experimental music videos, along with trailers and behind-the-scenes segments. These multimedia creations were disseminated across a variety of online platforms, events, channels, and radio, reaching a global audience. Thematic analysis was applied to the last two music videos, 'Is it Okay to Have a Bad Day' and 'Mental Obstacles Can Enlighten You.' Examination of feedback from both the audience and co-creators revealed favourable outcomes. The former fostered greater therapeutic concepts of social empathy and normalisation of negative emotions, while the latter exhibited heightened self-compassion and increased self-efficacy.

This design demonstrates effectiveness as a psychoeducational tool for youth, providing an engaging means of learning and promoting well-being. Furthermore, these methodologies contribute to the advancement of multimedia tools in the realms of public well-being and mental health education. The study addresses potential refinements in design and reporting processes for future investigations and explores broader implications.