Hallmarks of Good Mental Health 2011
Distributed by Human Relations Media, 41 Kensico Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549; 800-431-2050
Produced by Peter Cochran
Directed by Peter Cochran
DVD , color, 16 min., 3-ring binder/workbook
Jr. High - General Adult
Psychology, Adolescence, Self Esteem
Date Entered: 02/18/2013
Reviewed by Ciara Healy, Librarian for Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke UniversityThe program Hallmarks of Good Mental Health covers the following skills or attributes: self esteem, relations with others, academic achievement, setting future goals, making good choices, ability to delay gratification, and resiliency. Actual teens talk about their personal experience with each of these hallmarks - both boys and girls of a variety of races and abilities. There are also young teen hosts that introduce the segments and offer summaries and conclusions. The format is one that will be familiar to middle school students who have watched in-class videos about human development. There is a wonderful lack of flashy graphics or zany role-playing to make a point, which should appeal to older or more mature teens.
This DVD benefits from depicting a wide segment of the population and the participants speaking about their personal experience do not seem like actors. There are few adults shown and the focus is clearly on how young people feel and experience their important life choices. The program would ideally form the basis of an in-class or other group discussion about good mental health. An initial analogy is made between good physical health and good mental health, which serves as a starting point.
As with many instructional films aimed at middle school students, the clothes and styles of the student participants in the film will become quickly dated though the production value is quite high. In terms of the investment in a DVD for an extended school program about good mental health, this is a good choice but will have to be updated long before the material becomes obsolete.