Stop.Breathe.Think new short film released

Stop.Breathe.Think is proud to launch Tap to Unmute, its first video campaign, created to encourage young people to seek support with their mental health before they reach crisis point.

The campaign has been made possible thanks to a grant from the David Riddell Memorial CIO alongside the creative talent of Heads Up Productions, Really Good Films and Roman Kemp who all donated their time and expertise to bring this important project to life.

Tap to Unmute follows James, a teenage boy who is quietly struggling. He feels increasingly anxious, isolated and unsure of what is happening to him. He is not yet in crisis, but he is lonely and uncertain where to turn.

Many of the young people who reach crisis with their mental health begin exactly where James is. Too often, however, the signs go unnoticed or support only becomes available when it is too late.

The film highlights the importance of early intervention and the support Stop.Breathe.Think provides for young people, ensuring they have someone to talk to, without the wait. The charities latest Impact Report illustrates the difference that timely support can make before problems escalate.

The film project was led by Jody Allison and the team at Heads Up Productions. Jody said:

“I first got involved with Stop.Breathe.Think in 2024 through personal donations, but I wanted to do something more that could really make a difference. I had had my own struggles as a teenager which impacted my adult life, so I know what navigating life without support can be like. Also, as the mother of a teenage boy, this is an area I feel even more passionately about.

With my background in advertising production, I was fortunate to be able to bring together a team of highly skilled individuals to help make this film for Stop.Breathe.Think. From the directors and musicians to the sound designers, teenage actors and post-production team, everyone wanted to show their support for this important cause and help make it happen.”

Dan Charlish, Stop.Breathe.Think’s Founder and CEO said:

“We know that mental health difficulties rarely appear overnight. There are often early signs. A young person withdrawing, becoming anxious, losing confidence or simply not seeming themselves. These are the moments when timely support can make all the difference. And yet for so many young people, the support simply isn’t there. When a young person finally finds the courage to ask for help, it is not OK to ask them to wait. Sometimes for years.

That is why Stop.Breathe.Think and early intervention matters so much. If we can reach young people before they reach crisis point, we have a far greater chance of changing the trajectory of their lives.

Tap to Unmute is an important part of this goal for the charity. We hope the film will start conversations, reduce stigma and show young people what they are feeling is real, valid and worth talking about. With the support of everyone that has got behind this campaign, we can now share it in schools and communities across the country, reaching thousands of young people who may see something of themselves in James’ story.”

Watch Tap to Unmute here:

Research continues to show that improving access to early intervention is one of the strongest protective factors in reducing the likelihood of young people reaching crisis point later in life.

The reality is that all of us have witnessed the growing mental health struggles facing young people today, whether as parents, teachers, friends, family members or as members of our communities. We hope this film is relatable because it aims to reflect what so many young people are experiencing and what so many adults are concerned about. If it helps just one young person recognise they need support, or one adult recognise a child who is struggling, then it has already made a difference.

Through Tap to Unmute, Stop.Breathe.Think aims to launch a targeted outreach and awareness campaign about the importance of early intervention for all young people struggling with their mental health. Casting James as the lead was strategic, as boys and young men particularly struggle with reaching out for support, but we hope the film helps all young people find support in a way that feels relevant, accessible and free from stigma.