Wellness In Words

INTRODUCING, WELLNESS IN WORDS!

EXPLORING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH POETRY AND FILM-BASED DISCUSSIONS

Wellness In Words is an arts-based mental health workshop* that uses short films as creative catalysts to engage participants in free-writing and poetry exercises, empowering them to explore mental health in a brave space. This workshop is designed and intended for everyone, poetry novices and experts alike.

Wellness In Words currently has three separate focus areas to choose from:

  1. LGBTQ+ communities
  2. The culture of masculinity
  3. Hope and resilience

*Wellness In Words workshops are offered both in-person and virtually.

quotes

Wellness In Words was the most emotionally fulfilling highlight of my day. The questions it brought up for me about masks I feel I may have to wear, remembering to be ever mindful of the silent struggles and wars people may be fighting, came through in the poetry I wrote and the poetry I heard from others.

WIW participant at College of Marin

Wellness In Words: LGBTQ+ Focus

Meant for both allies and folks who identify as LBGTQ+, this stream explores aspects of mental health within queer individuals and communities—both the challenges as well as stories of strength and resilience. This workshop also provides a space for participants to envision and create goals for a community of support for LGBTQ+ people.

View some of our films that celebrate and explore queer stories*:

*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.

Watch our film winner, Staging Face
(Content heads up: depression, anxiety, transphobia, misgendering)

quotes

This was a safe space for the queer / LGBTQIA+ community to talk about how to become good allies with mental awareness and share meaningful poetry.

WIW-Q participant at Humboldt University

Wellness In Words: Masculinity Focus

Meant for folks of all genders, this stream explores the effects of traditional and/or unhealthy forms of masculinity, and its effects on the mental health of individuals and communities. This workshop also provides a space for participants to envision healthy forms of masculinity, where help-seeking for mental illness is encouraged rather than stigmatized.

View some of our films that challenge and explore the culture of masculinity*:

*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.

Watch our film winner, Fighter
(Content heads up: culture of masculinity and trauma)

quotes

I will try and remember that I am not the only one who feels a bit strange about masculinity and what it means. It’s interesting to know that many others are aware of the confusion around masculinity.

WIW-M participant at Vancouver Island University

Wellness In Words: Hope and Resilience Focus

View some of our films that explore the intersection of mental health and hope*:

*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.

Watch our film winner, Chained
(Content heads up: post traumatic stress, veteran)

quotes

Such an experiential and interactive workshop about hope and mental illness. You have to experience it to appreciate it.

WIW-H participant at Arts and Minds Canada

Wellness In Words - interactive discussion about the culture of masculinity
WIW PARTICIPANTS SHARE THEIR POEMS AFTER WATCHING ONE OF OUR OLIVE FILMS

quotes

A safe space / community. I loved that we were all strangers and yet the conversation flowed well and people shared some really personal writings!

WIW participant at College of Marin

TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE WELLNESS IN WORDS AGENDA AND OUTCOMES:

The workshop consists of facilitated discussion, two short films from Art With Impact’s library, and guided free writing and poetry activities. The event culminates with a presentation of accessible mental health resources, empowering participants to seek support and heal as individuals and as a community.

Together, participants engage in discussion and a creative process that allows them to:

  • Immerse themselves in an emotional experience through short, five-minute films.
  • Explore how the themes and ideas brought up intersect with their own lives and experiences.
  • Express their thoughts and feelings through poetry.

Designed to promote early intervention and prevention strategies around mental health, some outcomes of the program include:

86%
of students not in therapy reported an increased likelihood of seeking support for well-being
97%
believe that the workshop reduced stigma related to mental illness
99%
reported that the workshop created awareness of mental illness within their community
Wellness In Words - interactive discussion about mental health using poetry
WIW FACILITATOR 1990’S CHRIS LEADS A PANEL DISCUSSION AT GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

M4MH Online - students watching film together

WIW PARTICIPANTS WATCHING ALWAYS HOPE, TOGETHER IN REAL TIME ↑

quotes

A beautiful, love-filled event that examined how poetry and independent films help us address the trauma we’ve endured from being part of the LGBTQ+ community

WIW participant at the California Institute of Integral Studies

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.