samhsa.gov/prevention-week

Guidelines and Tips 

If you want to highlight a mental health or substance misuse issue in a visual way with the potential to reach a large 

audience, consider creating a video public service announcement (PSA). The following are some general guidelines 

and tips for how to create a PSA for your prevention event.

1. Decide whether a video PSA is the right format for 

your message. Nowadays, there are many avenues 

for getting the word out to audiences about an 

issue. Before moving full speed ahead, determine 

whether the benefits and costs of creating a video 

PSA are appropriate for your organization and 

cause.

2. Identify your topic. Pinpoint the mental health or 

substance misuse topic your organization wants to 

focus on.

3. Develop the key messages you want your audience 

to absorb. Are there current events or news stories 

that make some topics particularly relevant?

4. Research the topic. Make sure that any data or 

claims you plan to include in the PSA are backed by 

research and evidence.

5. Identify your audience. Clarify whom the 

PSA’s main message is for. Researching and 

understanding what this audience cares about can 

help target your message and final product.

6. Determine the distribution method and “hook.”

Think about how the PSA will be distributed or 

viewed, such as through local and national TV 

channels, YouTube, or your organization’s website, 

or at a special event. Particularly if you plan to 

contact TV stations, consider what makes your 

topic newsworthy and important to the media. What 

will make the producer say, “I can’t let this PSA slip 

through my fingers”?

7. Create an outline. Write down the major points you 

want to convey in the PSA and start to structure the 

flow of the video. Also, decide on an appropriate 

length for the PSA. Typically, they are 30 or 60 

seconds long. Fifteen-second PSAs may be more 

appropriate if your main distribution method will be 

social media channels.

8. Write a script. Write the narration and dialogue for 

the PSA. Use simple, conversational language. Keep 

your sentences concise and to the point. Read your 

script aloud and time its length to make sure you’re 

on target. It also may be helpful to create a script 

with two columns: one for the video’s audio content, 

and one to describe visuals that accompany the 

audio. Even if your PSA doesn’t feature anyone 

speaking, you’ll still want to write any text that 

will appear on screen and create storyboards to 

organize the flow of text and images.

9. Film and produce the video. Your organization 

may have an in-house production team, or you 

may need to research and contact an outside 

production team that can help film and polish your 

PSA. If you plan to create a PSA for TV distribution, 

using a professional video production vendor is 

recommended.

TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR 

OWN VIDEO PUBLIC SERVICE 

ANNOUNCEMENT
samhsa.gov/prevention-week

10. Distribute your PSA. Upload it online, share it through social media, or unveil it at a community-wide event! If you 

partner with other organizations, bring them on board to help promote the PSA. If not, identify organizations that 

focus on the topic of your PSA and ask them to help spread the word about the video.

11. If you’re interested in airing your PSA on TV, gather information about which channels and programs would be 

the best fit for your topic and message. Then, contact the TV station by phone or email, and briefly explain the 

purpose and message of your PSA and why the topic is relevant to the particular station or program. If the station 

is interested, follow up by sending the PSA to them in their preferred format (e.g., digital file attached to an email 

or saved on a disk).

Sample Video PSAs

The following videos are great examples of video PSAs that highlight the importance of health and wellness.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration’s (SAMHSA) “Can’t Be Seen” PSA about 

seeking professional help to detect and treat a mental 

illness (2021).

SAMHSA’s “This is Prevention. This is Changing Lives.” 

National Prevention Week PSA about those investing in 

their communities and investing in prevention (2019).

SAMHSA’s “Seven Generations | Prevent Suicide” about 

overcoming silence and the stigma surrounding mental 

health to seek help (2019).

SAMHSA’s “Marijuana Risks: Virtual Assistant” about 

one of the many marijuana health risks (2019).

SAMHSA’s “Dear Future Me” National Prevention Week 

PSA about preventing substance misuse and promoting 

positive mental health (2018).

SAMHSA’s “Making Each Day Count” National 

Prevention Week PSA about preventing substance 

misuse and promoting positive mental health (2017).
samhsa.gov/prevention-week

SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” “Keeping Our Kids 

Safe” PSA about underage drinking and misuse of 

prescription pain medication (2018).

SAMHSA’s Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental 

Illness Video PSA Contest winner, “I Am More Than 

Meets the Eye” (2011).

SAMHSA’s “We Can Help Us” campaign PSA about 

suicide prevention (2010).

SAMHSA’s Recovery Month “Voices for Recovery” 

PSA about words of encouragement from individuals in 

recovery and those seeking help (2018).

SAMHSA’s “What a Difference a Friend Makes | Tic Tac” 

PSA about promotion of positive mental health (2010).