In our final reflections of a decade of #findmike we want to celebrate its ongoing impact. From its very conception we always wanted to create something that would mean something to people who watched The Stranger on the Bridge but, importantly, also have a lifespan beyond the final credits.?
Over the last ten years we have built a wider ecosystem that champions the messages of the film, diversifying into different storytelling mediums and innovating how we can engage with new audiences. This includes:
- The continued reach of the #findmike campaign that has been followed by 350 million people and became one of the global viral success stories of its time
- The Stranger on the Bridge being featured on GoogleBox which brought it to new viewers
- Creating a theatrical production that expands beyond the story of the documentary to look at what happened before and after, whilst also building an immersive experience of what it is like to live with a condition where you hear voices. The sell-out and critically acclaimed tour, which was produced by a crew who all have lived experience of mental health, was also accompanied by an outreach programme that took the play into non-theatre locations of prisons and community centres with interactive workshops for participants to further explore its themes.
- Designing a workshop for young people called ThinkWell that incorporated footage from the documentary with kinaesthetic activities for participants to explore and reflect on ideas of wellbeing. It was delivered by trained practitioners, with built-in accompanying therapeutic support, to secondary school students across the UK and additional versions went into universities and businesses with the same aim of reducing stigmas and empowering participants to be able to talk about mental health.?
- Working with
Channel 4
on cross-parliamentary work to improve mental health representation and support across creative industries
- Supporting D&I initiatives with
Channel 4
,
ITV
, TV Access Project and the independent production sector for improved accessibility and opportunities for those with disabilities
We are continuing to expand and build on the legacy of #findmike and The Stranger on the Bridge and look forward to the next ten years!
