I began with an uncomfortable contradiction: on every industrial site, hi-vis PPE is an unmistakable sign that safety matters. But the signs that someone is struggling with their mental health are much harder to see.

 

That insight became the campaign idea: Let’s make mental health more visible.

 

I brought it to life by following an industrial worker who wears his hi-vis vest everywhere, far beyond the workplace. In the shower, at the gym, in the pool and on the golf course, the vest is deliberately out of place. It attracts plenty of bemused looks, but no one quite knows how to ask why he is wearing it.

 

Until a colleague and friend does. A simple “Are you OK?” creates the space for him to open up about what he is going through.

 

The film uses visual humour to draw people in, before landing a serious and compassionate point: noticing someone is one thing; starting the conversation is what can make a difference. The surreal situations made the message memorable without trivialising the issue, giving the campaign a distinct character and an approachable way into a difficult subject.

 

I took the project from initial concept through planning, organisation, art direction and production, making sure the creative idea held together in every detail. The film became the centrepiece of Altrad’s wider partnership with CALM, supported by a dedicated website, workshops and resources designed to make mental health more visible across the business.

 

It was a project I cared deeply about and one where I wanted the creativity to do more than get noticed. I wanted it to help people feel able to ask, listen and speak up. I even made a small cameo appearance! Strictly a production-saving measure, rather than the beginning of my acting career.