5 years ago, The World Health Association officially recognised burn out as a new disease. Today, 44% of Danish youth is feeling burned out. The number of young people suffering is increasing. Danish public service radio and TV-station, DR, has a mission to turn the tide in a mission to find out what makes the youth happy and encourage them to do more of that – to avoid burnout.
On March 9, mental health became a part of the curriculum in schools across the country. For over 30 years Danish schools have participated in a physical health day. Now the schools have Mental Health Day as well.
To create awareness about The Mental Health Day, Uncle Grey placed human-sized candles all over the country. Each of the statues was made from candle wax that symbolises what happens if we don’t act – inaction will lead to an entire generation burning out. The candles will take approimately 2 months to completely burn out, serving as a very real countdown – and a symbol of the state of the youth.
The candles have been placed in the biggest cities of Denmark, supported in different programs on the broadcaster’s channels. In addition to the large candles, small versions of the burnt-out youth will be given to different stakeholders and appear in TV shows. Special packaging has been created for politicians, stating what the candles are and what their ministry can do to avoid young people from burning out.
“We needed to create a symbol of the state of the youth and show the consequences if we don’t act now. All statues lead to a series of solutions – one of which is The Mental Health Day in Danish schools,” stated Clara Prior-Knock, creative director at Uncle Grey.
“For years we have focused on the importance of physical health – now it’s time to focus on keeping the mind fit. With this project we hope we can shine a light on the importance of that, and help young people know they are not alone in their struggle – because with a series of initiatives, we are here to help them,” added Charlotte Porsager, chief operating officer at Uncle Grey.
Facts
- The candle is a mix of paraffin and stearin
- It takes around 48 hours to cast one candle
- It weighs around 85 kg
- It can burn around 60-70 days from top to bottom (depending on weather – wind etc)
- It took 14 days to create the silicone mould
- The mould weighs around 300 kg
- Production time for the lanterns was 8 weeks
- The plexi-glass construction weights around 100 kg
- The top of the lantern weighs around 30-35 kg
- It takes 4 persons to lift the plexiglass-lantern all the way over the candle and into the base
Credits:
DR / P3
Cross-category Producer, DR Youth: Dorthe Duvander Kragh
Editor in Chief, DR Youth: Malene Birkebæk
Head of indie TV commissioning, DR Youth: Linda Etgar
Project Manager DR Youth: Marina Jensen
Uncle Grey
Creative Chairman: Lars Samuelsen
Creative Director: Clara Prior-Knock
Creatives: Jacob Grandt, Cecilie Jelstrup Larsen, Nicoline Grace Paulsen, Simon Frøsig
Editor & Motion GFX Artist: Thorbjørn Fessel
Head of Production: Anja Erngart
Digital Director: Kasper A. Nielsen
Chief Operating Officer: Charlotte Porsager
Løgumkloster Lys
Alexander Rindom Andersen, Fellow
Jonathan Grinderslev Jensen, Trainee
Solits B.V
Mariana Belivanaki, Head of Sales UK and Scandinavia
Partners: Ebbefos Fonden & Østifterne
