Movies for Mental Health – Sexual Violence Focus

INTRODUCING, MOVIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH – SEXUAL VIOLENCE FOCUS!

CREATING SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Movies for Mental Health — Sexual Violence Focus (M4MH-SV) is a film-based workshop* that focuses on exploring the mental health impacts that sexual violence can have on individuals and communities.

Knowing that art speaks the language of our interior worlds, we harness film to engage with young people on the vital topics of mental health and sexual violence, building empathy for what survivors might experience, and gaining tools for being able to support any survivors in their lives.

The event also connects students with mental health and sexual violence-oriented resources available to them, empowering them to seek support as individuals and communities to heal from sexual violence.

*Movies for Mental Health (Sexual Violence) workshops are offered both in-person and virtually.

Learn more about Movies for Mental Health

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I knew that support was key, but the other people watching made some comments that I never thought about. I learned new ways of approaching survivors of sexual violence and making them feel valid and heard.

M4MH-SV participant at Riverside City College

Watch our film winner, Little Elizabeth
(Content heads up: mention of trauma and childhood sexual assault.)

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This was a great opportunity to listen to a survivor and their experience. Powerful and effective—even through a computer screen!

M4MHO-SV participant at Cerritos College

View some of our films that explore the mental health impacts of sexual violence*:

*While most of our films do not go into graphic detail and remove depictions of assault, we acknowledge that sexual violence is a complex topic that may evoke strong feelings. Please follow these viewing guidelines or visit these resources to take care of yourself before and after viewing our films on this subject matter.

Movies for Mental Health - interactive discussion about the mental health impacts of sexual violence
M4MH PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AFTER WATCHING TOUCH ME DON’T TOUCH ME

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This workshop was eye-opening. I know sexual violence exists, but I don’t hear about it often and I believe this workshop helped in opening my eyes to see how serious it is. Individuals shouldn’t experience it or be afraid to speak about it.

M4MH-SV participant at Glendale Community College

TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE MOVIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH (SEXUAL VIOLENCE) AGENDA AND OUTCOMES:

M4MH-SV is for everyone! We view sexual violence as a community issue—everyone knows at least one survivor of sexual violence. Using film and somatic techniques, we welcome all people to step into different viewpoints and build empathy for others through art. Throughout the workshop, we:

  • Examine how sexual violence and mental illness is depicted in the media.
  • Explore the mental health impacts that sexual violence can have on both survivors and communities—including anxiety, PTSD, depression, eating disorders, self hatred, fear, insomnia, and / or others.
  • Encourage learning around how to support and relate to survivors, as friends, family, partners, and peers.
  • Present mental health panelists who represent sexual violence-focused resources.

Designed to reduce stigma around symptoms related to mental illness due to sexual violence, some outcomes of the program include:

92%
of students reported an increased likelihood to take action to support themselves or others when it comes to healing from sexual violence
98%
believe that the workshop reduced stigma related to mental illness
99%
reported that the workshop raised awareness of the mental health impacts of sexual violence
Movies for Mental Health (Online) - interactive discussion during coronavirus pandemic
M4MH FACILITATOR BETH KILLIAN LEADS A PANEL DISCUSSION AT CRAFTON HILLS COLLEGE

M4MH Online - students watching film together
M4MH ONLINE PARTICIPANTS WATCHING OLIVE FILM WINNER, IF I TOLD YOU, TOGETHER IN REAL TIME ↑

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I will use what I learned today in my own personal healing and as great reminder to be a good support system for sexual assault survivors.

M4MH-SV participant at the College of San Mateo

Technical Requirements

Art With Impact handles everything on the planning end of things—from marketing materials to technical support—so you don’t need to worry about anything other than promoting to your students, selecting which wellness resources to include, and showing up on the day of the workshop!

Our virtual programs run on the BigBlueButton (BBB) open-source platform, hosted on Art With Impact’s private server. BBB works across all major HTML-supported browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Edge) via computer or smartphone, and participants do not need to download or install any apps or software.