Loneliness PSA
My Roles: Director, Writer, Illustrator, Animator
Sound Design: Madeline Stanger
Narration: Becky Alignay
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy sounded the alarm on a new epidemic: loneliness. As someone deeply interested in social connection, especially given the rise of virtual interactions through technology and social media, I find this issue particularly concerning. Gen Z, my generation, is the most affected by this crisis. Recognizing the urgency, I created this 30-second PSA video to highlight the detrimental effects of loneliness and suggest ways to combat this silent epidemic.
In this PSA, I aimed to convey that loneliness is not merely an isolated issue affecting a few individuals. Instead, it is a growing national trend impacting diverse groups, far beyond the stereotypical "introverts."
Creating a captivating message requires identifying a significant and relevant problem for viewers. This can naturally introduce a discouraging or frightening tone. However, my aim was not to create a disheartening message, but one that inspires and encourages. To achieve this, I highlighted actionable steps we can take to not necessarily solve the issue entirely but to improve it. While there are various ways to combat loneliness, I wanted to first emphasize the importance of being willing to take action.
