Mental Health Video Production in Aotearoa
We make lived experience films and campaign videos for mental health organisations across New Zealand, built around the safety and dignity of the people who share their stories.
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A mental health video asks a lot of the people in it.
People share some of the hardest moments of their lives on camera. Handled badly, filming can hurt the person telling the story and the people watching it.
Campaigns also need safe messaging, especially around suicide. CHUR! All Good Bro, our suicide prevention campaign for the Mental Health Foundation, focused on connection and simple actions a friend can take, rather than the details of suicide.
How we keep people safe
1
Before filming
Pre-interviews check that someone is ready before they commit. A support person is agreed for the day.
2
On the day
Anyone can pause, skip a question or stop without explaining. When they do, the camera stops immediately.
3
After filming
Contributors review the final edit before it is published, and consent can still be withdrawn.
Read the full approach in our trauma-informed filming guide.
Mental health projects
Mental Health Awareness Week
A portrait series for the Mental Health Foundation, each film centred on one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing.
All Sorts
Four Cyclone Gabrielle recovery stories for Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, showing how connection helped people through.
CHUR! All Good Bro
A suicide prevention campaign helping tāne Māori check in on a mate. Used on television, in cinemas, on billboards and across social.
Nōku te Ao
Five lived experience films to reduce mental health stigma, told in the words of the people who lived them.
Pink Shirt Day 2025
Three video portraits for the Mental Health Foundation's anti-bullying campaign, each about the Upstander who made a difference.
LOKO
A feature documentary following Matty Paparoa from homelessness back to the stage and his whakapapa. Screened on Māori Television and as a seven-part NZ Herald series.
What you can commission
A flagship film
One documentary-style film that carries your campaign or tells your organisation's story.
Short portraits
A set of short films, each centred on one person, like our series for Mental Health Awareness Week and Nōku te Ao.
Cut-downs for social
Shorter versions shaped for the feeds people actually use, delivered alongside the main film.
Experience you can check
Diego Opatowski has spent 23 years telling stories for organisations doing meaningful work, and was a judge when the Mental Health Foundation launched its first film festival.
Antworks Studio is also a supplier on the All-of-Government Creative and Media Services panel, so government health agencies on the contract can engage us through the panel. More about government video production.
Questions
What is mental health video production?
Films that help people understand mental health and wellbeing, usually built around lived experience. Our work includes awareness campaigns, suicide prevention, anti-stigma series and feature documentary.
How do you protect people sharing lived experience?
Consent is ongoing, not a single signature. We pre-interview first, agree a support person, stop the camera immediately when asked and let contributors review the final edit before publication.
Can you film suicide prevention campaigns?
Yes. CHUR! All Good Bro helped tāne Māori recognise when a friend is struggling and feel confident checking in. The films focused on connection rather than the details of suicide.
How long does a mental health video take?
Contributor review typically adds one to two weeks, and it is worth it. Our post-production timeline guide explains the rest.
Can government agencies engage Antworks Studio?
Yes. Antworks Studio is a supplier on the All-of-Government Creative and Media Services panel, so agencies on the contract can engage us through the panel. More about government video production.
Related Resources
Mental Health Video Production Guide
Crew selection, safety planning and filming with vulnerable populations.
Trauma-Informed Filming
How we protect people before, during and after the camera rolls.
Lived Experience Video
How to film lived experience stories ethically.
People-First Filmmaking
Why the footage is never more important than the person providing it.
Planning a mental health campaign?
Let's talk about your audience, the people you want to feature and how to keep them safe.
Get a Custom QuoteAntworks Studio · Auckland, Aotearoa · 021 254 2282 · hello@antworks.co.nz