PSA Script and Mood Board

For my PSA, I wanted to make it about mental health, more specifically anxiety and panic disorder, and how to get help or help others. I want to make it educational as well as inspiring. For the mood board, I tried to find colors or pictures that illustrated or represented anxiety and juxtaposing them with ideas of comfort. This way, I could bring a sense of hope or support in the face of hardship or adversity.

For the script, I wanted to have the voice of the speaker as well as the transitions of the background audio, like the music. That way I could be better organized in my plan when I start working on the final product.

Mental Health Support: Anxiety and Panic Disorder Script

Music starts, happy first then more urgent after “suddenly”

Narrator: Picture this: you and your friend are talking. Then, suddenly, your heart starts racing and you feel an intense sense of terror. You start trembling and it feels as though you can’t breathe. It’s like you’re having a heart attack and you are terrified.

Short pause, music stops and slowly starts up again

Narrator: That was, in essence, a panic attack. Oftentimes, they are completely unprompted. Up to 11% of Americans experience a panic attack every year, and 2 to 3% of those go on to develop a panic disorder. But what is a panic disorder? Well, a panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder and the DSM-5, which is the latest issue of the psychology book that categorizes and lists all known mental disorders and how to diagnose them, defines a panic disorder as having “recurrent and unexpected panic attacks” with at least one attack followed by a month or more of either a “persistent concern about additional attacks or their consequences” or “a significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks.”

Music gradually slows to a stop

Narrator: However, there are ways to help.

Music starts again, but is more hopeful

Narrator: You can limit your own caffeine intake, exercise more, maintain a healthy diet, and manage your stress. You can also seek treatment from therapy, prescribed medication, and support groups. And if someone you know is dealing with something like this, then try and be supportive. You never know how helpful that could be to someone.

Music slows to a stop