Canadian non-profit organization hosts mental wellness workshop for students
One hundred students, of different ages, identities, and academic backgrounds, gathered for a common interest: eradicating the stigma surrounding mental illness.
On Wednesday, Jan. 16, Art With Impact, in cooperation with Student Wellness, ran a mental wellness workshop for students. Art With Impact is a Canadian non-profit organization which, according to their official website, “promotes mental wellness by creating space for young people to learn and connect through art and media.” Over a hundred students packed into a lecture hall, after grabbing their free pizza, and participated in Movies for Mental Health.
Movies for Mental Health is a two-hour interactive seminar with the goal of “starting conversations about mental health with young people around the world,” said Andrea LaMarre, the workshop facilitator. LaMarre recently graduated from U of G where she studied eating disorder recovery. Before the presentation began, she addressed some disclaimers she felt the group needed to be aware of. Firstly, “it’s okay to feel,” and secondly, “please take care of yourself, including asking for help.”
Right off the bat, the attendees were immersed in a comforting and safe environment.
Student representatives from the Student Support Network were sitting at the exits of the room if participants needed to talk to someone about emotions evoked during the workshop. In addition to the student representatives, a table outside the lecture hall had a spread of information about several different on-campus and community mental health resources.
Throughout the seminar, LaMarre posed many questions to the group and encouraged people to share their opinions and their experiences relating to certain issues. The questions with the most answers were about which movies and television shows depict mental illness, whether accurately or inaccurately. With a relatable question such as this, everyone had something to add, which created a welcoming atmosphere.
After this open discussion came some short films. The first, and most notable, was Little Elizabeth, by Elizabeth Ayiku. Ayiku narrated the film, which told a story of self-acceptance, love, and compassion when handling trauma.
The discussions following each film addressed the thoughts and feelings that arose during the viewing. Many participants said that the films inspired them and they felt chills.
In the final 30 minutes of the seminar, a panel comprised of two students and two professionals from different mental health resources off-campus sat down to share experiences with the participants and answer questions.
Movies for Mental Health created a positive environment for student attendees in a lecture hall, transformed what can be a stressful environment for students into a positive one. The workshop was engaging and encouraging for students who either struggle with mental health, or were just there to have an open discussion about stigma.
The organization’s social media handle is @artwithimpact, and content related to this workshop are tagged #Movies4MentalHealth