INTRODUCING, MOVIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH!
SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH FILM-BASED DISCUSSIONS
Movies for Mental Health is an arts-based mental health workshop* that focuses on empowering young adults, educators, health professionals and community members to gain a better understanding of mental health within their environment.
Knowing that art speaks the language of our interior worlds, we harness film to engage with young people on the vital topic of mental health and mental illness, inspiring them to tell their own stories and explore those of others.
The event also connects students with mental health resources available to them, empowering them to seek support and heal as individuals and communities.
*Movies for Mental Health workshops are offered both in-person (PDF) and virtually (PDF).
Learn more about Movies for Mental Health ↑
M4MH was seamless. I felt like you all created a brave space and allowed folks, including panelists, options for stepping up and stepping back depending on our comfort level. Thank you for putting on such an amazing event, I was definitely nervous going into it, but I left feeling really hopeful and supported by my community.
— M4MH participant at Santa Clara University
Watch our film winner, Visualizing Lies ↑
(Content heads up: depression)
(Content heads up: depression)
This was beyond awesome. I would honestly get up every morning and do this every day because I felt so much better after communicating with the people on it and observing what others were feeling and relating to those feelings.
— M4MH participant at Gavilan College
View some of our films that can help students heal and connect with one another*:
- Mind Matters
- A Short Film About Anxiety
- The Conversation That Never Happened
- Parallel
- Gladys
- Blue
- FINE
- And more!
*We acknowledge that mental health 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.
I really appreciated the attention to detail in promoting and safeguarding the mental health of everyone in attendance. Art With Impact really put their best foot forward in expressing their genuine interest in the wellbeing of those in the audience, as well as displaying their comprehensive understanding and knowledge of what mental illness is, how it affects people, and how best to promote mental wellness in everyone they work with.
— M4MH participant at Bay Path University
TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE MOVIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AGENDA AND OUTCOMES:
Movies for Mental Health provides students with a brave forum to genuinely connect with themselves and others through a curriculum that includes:
- Educational introduction about mental illness, mental wellness, stigma, and the media’s role in our perceptions of these experiences.
- Viewing and deep-dive discussion of three award-winning short films about mental health through.
- Discussion around cultural stigma and mental illness in underrepresented communities.
- Therapeutic somatic activities that encourage participants consciously connect with their minds and bodies.
- Panel discussion and Q&A with lived-experience speakers and accessible mental health resources.
Designed to promote early intervention and prevention strategies around mental health, some outcomes of the program include:
74%
of students not in therapy reported an increased likelihood of seeking support for well-being
of students not in therapy reported an increased likelihood of seeking support for well-being
93%
believe that the workshop reduced stigma related to mental illness
believe that the workshop reduced stigma related to mental illness
98%
reported that the workshop created awareness of mental health and mental illness
reported that the workshop created awareness of mental health and mental illness
M4MH PARTICIPANTS WATCHING OLIVE FILM WINNER, ALWAYS HOPE, TOGETHER IN REAL TIME ↑
This is an amazing workshop where you will be able to discuss mental health in a very organic and healthy way with others. I enjoyed watching the short films and seeing how others view mental health in a healthier, creative way.
— M4MH participant
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.
