Producing a story diminishes the trauma

Storytelling is best practiced by content professionals who know how to write, edit and script, right?

Wrong.

The proof is in the three-day workshop that was organised in the Nashville Public Library. Teenagers suffering from type 1 diabetes were invited to produce their storytelling videos by themselves, using old personal photos, and audio recording.

The workshop was part of the research program of a nursing professor, Shelagh Mulvaney, Ph.D., for a self-care support system, mobile based. We love projects like this, pushing the boundaries of innovation, and coming up with social relevance at the same time. And even producing a good story! Experience the powerful atmosphere of the film, made out of available photos from the scrapbook of sixteen-year-old participant Claire Trabue, and with her own voice-over. Simple means with an impressive effect.

Not only does she draw us into her life and experiences as a diabetic, but the making of the personal films have been a healing experience for the participants as well. In the hands of a handful specialists, the kids learned skills like editing and using their voice to create atmosphere. The workshops proved to be a helpful event in improving self-awareness and overcoming emotional scars. The stories are embedded within a digital program that guides individual self-care problem-solving.

“My parents are constantly nagging me about my diabetes… ‘remember to do this, don’t forget to do that,’” said Jack Sevelius, a 14-year-old participant who loves junk food. “At the end of my film I tell them I will include them more in what I do. I know the nagging is because they love me.”

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