Connecting People to Help: The Anoka County Mental Health Video Series
How Anderson Hughs Productions helped Anoka County introduce mental health resources through approachable videos and comfortable on-camera interviews.
When someone is struggling, the hardest part is often knowing where to turn. Anoka County has a wide network of mental health resources, but resources only help if people know they exist. That's the idea behind the Anoka County Mental Health Video Series: short, approachable videos that introduce the services available and the caring people behind them.
Putting faces to the resources
A phone number on a flyer can feel cold. A familiar face explaining what they do and how to reach them feels like an open door. For this series, we filmed the professionals and community partners who provide mental health support across Anoka County. Each one explains in their own words who they serve and how to get help.
Making participants comfortable on camera
Most of the people in this series aren't used to being filmed, and the topic is personal. We planned every shoot carefully and kept the process simple and organized. Our goal was for each person to feel at ease so they could speak naturally. Here's what one participant shared afterward:
"I was recently honored to be included in a video project highlighting many of the resources available in Anoka County. Anderson Hughs Productions produced the video. They were very professional, caring and efficient. They were well organized, as evidenced by how well the process was executed. They made us feel comfortable and at ease. I would highly recommend Anderson Hughs for future projects!"
Why video works for public health outreach
- People can learn about services privately, on their own time
- Seeing a real provider makes it less intimidating to reach out
- Short videos are easy to share on county websites, social media and in waiting rooms
- A series gives each resource its own spotlight and lets the library grow over time
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Anderson Hughs Productions is a veteran-owned video production company in St. Cloud, Minnesota. We help counties, health systems and nonprofits connect people with the help they need. Let's talk about your project.