Don’t Hold Back

Brooke Barraza, Julianna Cuellar, Vivian Perez, Mia Poovakad, and Angelique Wiesner

12th Grade

Claremont High School

Tri-City

Our PSA follows a high school cheerleader who is struggling to open up about her mental health. We decided to use a cheerleader as our protagonist, because we understand how, metaphorically, a cheerleader’s experience can actually be relatable to anyone who is experiencing a mental health challenge; we reference how they are often expected to maintain a performative, joyful demeanor, while always being a support system for others. Our protagonist then discovers that she too is allowed to ask for support and