In this animated video, 17-year-old Medin describes what it was like to have one of the deadliest mental health conditions — anorexia — and still be denied the treatment her doctor recommended.

I worked with reporter Hannah Furfaro and news artist Jennifer Luxton to conceptualize, record and create this animated film. It is based on an audio interview I recorded with the teen and developed into a narrative that could translate to illustration while protecting the young person’s identity.

This was part of the reporting that was awarded the 2024 Carolyn C. Mattingly Award for Mental Health Reporting from the National Press Foundation. NPF judges praised the film for “allowing a teen’s voice to be heard” regarding her experience with insurance denials.

See the full investigation on seattletimes.com