Read the Signs Website

Young people are complex emotional beings. Read the signs helps those around them understand when certain behaviour is a cry for help.

Ignorance of mental health problems, and lack of information about how to cope with them, were found to be widespread. These campaigns, which used very early web 2.0 tactics, allowed young people to explore mental health issues on their own terms.

Read the Signs, is a government campaign in England to tackle stigma among young people about mental health. We were asked to create a website containing essential information about mental health issues for 14 to 21 year olds.

We developed a tone of voice that needed to be informative (but not patronising), communicative (but not hectoring) and creative (but not ingratiating).

We created a website combining short stories, signs, scenes and suggested positive action. We also created an online game - mind ‘n’ seek - to accompany read the signs. This carried subtle educational messages in a multi-layered game and was promoted through viral marketing.

The site helped open young people’s minds, and lift the stigma, about mental health.

Ignorance of mental health problems, and lack of information about how to cope with them, were found to be widespread. These campaigns, which used very early web 2.0 tactics, allowed young people to explore mental health issues on their own terms.

Read the Signs, is a government campaign in England to tackle stigma among young people about mental health. We were asked to create a website containing essential information about mental health issues for 14 to 21 year olds.

We developed a tone of voice that needed to be informative (but not patronising), communicative (but not hectoring) and creative (but not ingratiating).

We created a website combining short stories, signs, scenes and suggested positive action. We also created an online game - mind ‘n’ seek - to accompany read the signs. This carried subtle educational messages in a multi-layered game and was promoted through viral marketing.

The site helped open young people’s minds, and lift the stigma, about mental health.