
CAPE ASSIST
&
THE CAPE MAY COUNTY HEALTHY COMMUNITY COALITION
2025 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CONTEST
PSA SUBMISSION DEADLINE COUNTDOWN
HCC, a community initiative of Cape Assist, is striving to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors for substance misuse among youth in our community. This year’s topics will focus on the importance of connection, peer support, and staying drug-free.
The contest is open to all students in grades K-12 in Cape May County.
(Younger students may need the help of an adult to discuss and choose a topic from one of the four topics below)
Students are invited to create a poster/art PSA or a 60-second video (or less), or a written PSA on one of the following four topics (click on each topic to see details and fact sheet):​
Entries are due by Friday, March 14, 2025

Each winner and one guest will be invited to Cape Assist’s Public Policy and Awards Breakfast, where they will be recognized. The breakfast will be held on
Friday, March 14, 2025, at Icona Avalon, 8:30-10:30am.
Winning PSAs will be used at Cape Assist functions and workshops and may be chosen to be displayed on Cape Assist’s and HCC’s social media pages as well as sponsored radio spots

Before you start your PSA
visit the rules, requirements, and eligibility


2025 PSA TOPICS


RULES, REQUIREMENTS, & ELIGIBILITY
Rules & Eligibility:
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The contest is only open to students in grades K-12 residing in Cape May County or enrolled in a school in Cape May County.
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Students must select one of the four topics listed below for their PSA. Each topic has a description/fact sheet.
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Mental Health: It’s Okay to Talk About It
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The Power of Connection
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Why I Choose to Be Drug-Free
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Self-Care During Tough Times
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PSA may not contain the following: profanity, nudity, promoting drinking and drug use, death, or violence.
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Submit PSA entry at www.cmchcc.org/psa by the deadline date (Friday, March 14, 2025).
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Only one entry per student or group is permitted.
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Any entries submitted after the deadline or without an entry form will be considered invalid.
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Parent consent is required with each PSA entry submission.
Requirements for video PSA:
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Video PSA will only be accepted in the following formats: MP4, AVI, MOV, WMV
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Video PSA should be limited to 60 seconds or less.
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PSA must include a title and “produced by” at the beginning or end of the video (this will be included in the 60-second video limit).
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Ensure that background music/noise does not overpower or distract any important speaking parts of the PSA. Actors in the PSA should speak loud and clear.
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Check PSA audio to ensure that it is loud and clear enough at a normal volume range.
Requirements for Poster/Art PSA:
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Poster/Art will only be accepted in the following formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, and PNG.
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Check for spelling and grammar.
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For students submitting a photograph of their meme, poster, or art, please check the lighting and clarity of the photo before submitting.
Requirements for a written PSA:
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Written PSA will only be accepted in the following formats: PDF, DOC, and DOCX.
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Written PSA must have a title, name, grade, and school on top of the document.
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Your written PSA should be 250 words or less.
For any questions or assistance, please contact Natalia at natalia@capeassist.org.

TOPIC FACT/SUGGESTION
PSA Topic: Mental Health: It’s Ok to Talk about It
In this PSA, we invite you to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and reaching out for help.
A few points to help you generate ideas:
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When someone is suffering, reaching out for help can be hard, but this is the first step to feeling better. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 young adults is dealing with mental illness, but as many as half are struggling in silence.
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Many risk-taking behaviors such as substance use, for example, can start during teenage years as an unhelpful strategy to cope with emotional difficulties and can severely impact a teen’s mental and physical well-being.
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Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors.
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It’s hard to engage in school when someone’s dealing with mental health issues. It’s important to recognize and address it.
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Just talking about mental health issues, even to one person, helps break down the stigma. Some teens might be afraid of being judged or of not being taken seriously, and don’t ask for help. Being a supportive friend and encouraging them to talk to a trusted adult can make a big difference.
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In your PSA, you could also talk about the 2NDFLOOR helpline as an available
2NDFLOOR is a Confidential and Anonymous Helpline for NJ Youth and Young Adults. The organization is available to youth and young adults to help find solutions to the problems they face. Helpline is available 24/7 - 365 days a year. Problems, questions, or non-life threatening situations: dial or text the youth helpline at 888-222-2228 or send an e-mail at: info@2NDFLOOR.org.
2nd Floor website: https://www.2ndfloor.org
***Note: If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or 988.
PSA Topic: Why I Choose to Be Drug-Free
Ideas: In this PSA, you could explore how having goals and working toward achieving them plays a big role in making good decisions and staying drug-free.
In addition to having goals, knowing the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol helps people make good decisions. Below is some information on the risks.
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Drugs and alcohol affect children and adolescents in a much more negative way than adults. It is because the brain of a young person is not fully developed until the age of 25 years old.
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All drugs will affect a person’s judgement, ability to form new memories, learning, reaction time, impulse control, and decision-making.
Marijuana
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It is illegal to buy or use marijuana for those who are under 21. It is also illegal for adults to provide marijuana products to those who are under 21.
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Marijuana is a mind-altering (psychoactive) drug produced by the Cannabis plant. THC is the main chemical ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect (makes someone ‘high’).
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THC disrupts the brain’s ability to form memories and learn new things.
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Marijuana can have permanent damaging effects on developing brains. It can lower a person’s IQ if they use it regularly in their teen years.
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Students who use marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of school.
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Marijuana is highly addictive. 1 in 6 youth marijuana users becomes addicted.
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Frequent marijuana use has been linked to depression, paranoia, and anxiety.
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Playing sports or video games? – marijuana can affect timing, coordination, movement and weaken someone’s performance.
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Longtime marijuana users report being less satisfied with their lives, having memory and relationship problems, poorer mental and physical health, and less career success.
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Drivers who test positive for marijuana are over 2 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
Alcohol
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It is illegal to buy or consume alcohol under the age of 21. It is also illegal for adults to provide alcohol to those who are under 21.
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If a person drinks alcohol before the age of 15, they are 5 times more likely to be alcohol dependent than someone who waited until the legal age of 21.
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Alcohol impairs judgment and can lead someone to making decisions they wouldn’t normally make.
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Research shows that teens who drink score lower on tests than those who don’t and are more likely to perform poorly at school or even drop out of school.
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Alcohol consumption lowers speed, endurance, strength, and concentration - all key factors in an athlete’s success.
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One time getting drunk equals 14 days of lost training effects (for sports). One person’s individual decision to drink alcohol would affect the entire team.
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Underage drinking can result in other negative consequences such as alcohol poisoning, alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, other injuries, legal problems, etc.
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Alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer.
Tobacco and Vaping
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The legal age to purchase tobacco or vape products is 21.
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Teenagers who vape and use e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) are more likely to try cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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Nicotine in either tobacco or vaping liquids is very addictive.
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A person can start feeling addicted after smoking only a few cigarettes or after smoking or vaping only for a few days. People who start smoking/vaping when they’re young have the hardest time quitting.
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There are thousands of toxic chemicals in cigarettes and in vaping products. They affect the health of a person’s lungs, and some of the chemicals can cause cancer.
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Teens who smoke have many more colds, coughs, throat and nose problems than those who don’t.
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Smoking cigarettes and vaping are major risk factors for a heart attack.
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Smoking causes bad breath, stains teeth and tongue, and helps tartar build up on teeth.
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Teens who smoke or vape are more likely to have panic attacks, anxiety problems, and depression.
Environmental Impact of Vaping - Don’t Puff Away Our Planet The growth of the vape industry has created a new environmental hazard to our planet. Vaping devices contain two types of waste which makes them extremely difficult to dispose of safely. Each vape contains electronic waste from the battery in the device and hazardous waste from the chemicals in the vape liquid. These two types of waste are ending up in landfills where they decompose and pollute our soil and water supply. In addition, the batteries can explode and cause fires at the landfills where they end up. Finally, vape devices are also made from non-recyclable plastic that further pollutes our planet.
PSA Topic: Real-Time vs Screen-Time
In this PSA, we invite you to raise awareness about the importance of reducing screen time to support real-life connections with family and friends while also exploring the benefits of being present and experiencing life without the constant distractions of the screens.
Here is some information that could help you get started:
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Screen-time refers to time spent using devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs. Real-time refers to time spent engaging in activities that do not involve screens, such as spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, being active or relaxing, etc.
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Highlight the benefits of spending quality time with family and friends without screens. It helps make the connections deeper, have shared experiences, and create long-lasting memories. Spending time with loved ones can reduce stress and anxiety.
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There are also physical health benefits of reducing screen time. For example, reducing screen time, especially before bed, can improve sleep. Less time on screens can also mean more time for physical activities like walking, jogging, or playing sports.
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Real-time interactions with people help develop social skills and emotional intelligence. Face-to-face interactions allow us to pick up on non-verbal cues like body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice which are vital for effective communication. We can see and feel other people’s emotions more directly, and that enhances our ability to connect and empathize with others.
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Sometimes people use screens to avoid being bored. But moments of boredom can be good because they can boost creative thinking and lead to unexpected insights and innovative solutions. Taking time away from screens could provide more time for exploring and engaging in activities such as volunteering or joining a club, or engaging in hobbies like art, music, gardening, cooking, or reading.
PSA Topic: Words Matter
In this PSA, we invite you to raise awareness about the importance of words in preventing bullying and promoting a culture of kindness and respect both in real life and online.
These ideas can help you get started:
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Show how words can have the power to uplift or do harm. Positive words can build confidence and self-esteem and foster a supporting environment, while negative words can cause emotional pain and long-lasting harm.
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Explore the connection between verbal bullying and mental health issues, emphasizing the need for supportive communication. Negative words can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It's important to recognize the impact our words can have on others and strive to communicate with kindness and empathy.
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Encourage students to consider the impact of their words before speaking or posting online. This simple habit can prevent many instances of verbal bullying. Encourage the use of positive and supportive language both in person and online.
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Focus on the importance of respectful and kind communication in digital spaces to prevent cyberbullying. Online platforms can amplify the reach and impact of hurtful words. Cyberbullying can be particularly damaging because it can happen 24/7 and reach a wide audience quickly.
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Bystanders can play a crucial role in preventing bullying by speaking up against hurtful words and supporting the person. Bystanders have the power to use their words to intervene and stop bullying and help create a safer environment.
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Promote a school culture where respect and kindness are valued. Encourage students to celebrate differences and use their words to support and uplift each other. Compliments, encouragement, and kind words can create a positive atmosphere and help prevent bullying.