An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression (Feat. Raven Saunders) | PBS Short Docs

Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders was riding high after the 2016 games, but she wasn’t prepared for what came once she returned home.

This short documentary tells the story of Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders, the intensity of her 2016 Olympic experience, her childhood trauma, and the pitfalls of celebrity that challenged her mental health. After receiving care for depression, Raven spoke out about her struggles and became a leading advocate for mental health dialogue among athletes.

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#MentalHealthAwareness #LetsTalk #Documentary

This film is part of the #WellBeings "Out of the Dark" docuseries showcasing the inspiring personal stories of the most influential youth activists in the mental health space. Each episode takes an in-depth look at the struggles each overcame, the impact of their work, and their continued mental health journeys. Learn more at https://wellbeings.org/outofthedark

CREDITS
A film by Redglass Pictures
Directed by Sarah Klein & Tom Mason
Executive Producers: Kelly Deckert, Justin Rhodes, John Wilson
Producer: Heather Martino
Editor: Tom Mason
Cinematographer: Bob Miller
Additional Cinematography: Tom Mason
Assistant Camera: Daniel Lawson
Field Audio: Eric Chapman
Color Grade: Stephen Derluguian
Sound Mix: Cory Choy of Silver Sound

MUSIC
“Forward Together” by Gareth Johnson and Paul Clarvis
“Light Within” by Bob Bradley, Paul Clarvis and Thomas Balmforth
“Bank Heist” by Luke Richards
“Carnival De Rio” by Dave James
“Mahala Batucada” by Neil Williams and Rupert Pfaff
“Bleak” by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock and Ellie Kidd
“Isostasy” by Mark Petrie and Andrew Prahlow
“Waiting For A Sign” by Jerome Leroy
“Family Tree” by Alex Arcoleo

Olympic footage provided by Jordan Burroughs, Peter Miller, Kevin Mulligan

Additional footage provided by University of Oregon, University of Minnesota, University of Mississippi, MileSplit, Gatorade/PepsiCo, FilmSupply, Pond5, Lukas Schulze/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images, WCBD News 2, WCSC Live 5, Charleston County School District

Additional thanks to Raven Saunders, Clarissa Saunders, Herbert Johnson, Linard McCloud, Charlie Litchfield, Scott LaBounty, Carlyn Schreck, Zack Barnett, Jimmy Stanton, Zach Lawson, Micah Joseph Ginn, Mo Smith, Joshua Taylor McCoy, Paul McCarthy, Kyle Campbell, Tyler Wooten, John Olson, Molly Coyle, Jennifer Dale, Micah Brown, Todd Shaffer, and Cris Thorne.

Education (or Educational Outreach) Support Provided by American Public Media’s Call to Mind Initiative, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, WE Charity, Forbes, PEOPLE, Mental Health America, National Council for Behavioral Health, The Steve Fund, and The Jed Foundation.

Original Production Funding for Support for “Out of the Dark”
Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Liberty Mutual Insurance, American Psychiatric Association Foundation, One Mind, Movember, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Dana Foundation, Dauten Family Foundation, The Hersh Foundation, Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission, John & Frances Von Schlegell, Sutter Health, Robina Riccitiello, and Jackson Family Enterprises

For WETA
Digital Content Producer: Cori Kipps
Social Media Manager: Chase Ellington
Digital Coordinator: Eleftheria Giannopoulos

Out of the Dark is produced by WETA, which is solely responsible for its content.

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