10. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
HERE’S THE PLAN
● Setting the scene together
○ Mental Health
○ Sexual Violence
○ Stigma
● Watch and discuss films, connect our minds and
bodies
● Panel of students and resources
● Evaluation (and a chance to enter to win a $25
Amazon gift card!)
● Virtual Mingle / Q&A (Optional)
#Movies4MentalHealth
11. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
Mental health is personal – YOU are the expert
on your own experience
Sexual violence is personal and impacts mental
health in many different ways
We are online - this is a public, shared space
We are recording this session for internal
training and evaluation purposes
Please take care of yourself however you need,
including asking for help
HEADS UP
#Movies4MentalHealth
12. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
IN JUST A FEW WORDS...
What has self-care been
looking like for you these days?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● I read comic books!
● Exercise
● Playing video games!
● Spending time with family and stepping away from the computer
● Taking care of your mental space, I like to read, take naps, painting,
going outside
● Yoga
● Video games, movies, writing
● Journaling, painting, finding new coffee shops
● Drinking tea!
● Playing guitar and reading
● Getting enough sleep!
● Traveling/car trips
● Mediation
● Exercising and gooing on long walks with my god
● Video chat with friends
● Long bubble bath and facials with loud music… painting… dancing naked
in my bedroom
● Gardening
● Music, playing ukulele or piano are myy favs
● Journaling
● Learning to draw
16. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
Sexual Violence Survivor
○ Personal definition
○ Has been through a potentially traumatic experience,
or set of experiences, involving sexual or intimate
acts
○ Experience was against their wishes
○ and/or crossed a boundary that they had set
○ and/or left them feeling violated, used, scared, unsafe
or hurt
20. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
Reflecting on our answers
to these questions: =
What are your first thoughts?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● People show the acts without the after affects or the healing processs
● The shows can be triggering
● All of the shows I’ve seen that show these things are newer, because it
was something rarely discussed before
● It can open people’s eyes to sexual violence
● I feel like media often uses sexual violence as something as a terrible
act, but often ignore the mental states and healing of survivors
● Not much spotlight on the healing section
● More information regarding healing is necessary to include in stories
● I am thinking of the Shawshank Redemption, they only showed the
violence
● I think it’s more focused on the violence because it’s more down but the
healing process isn’t as known or easyy
22. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
What did you think?
How did you feel?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● That was really nice!
● Very emotional
● How do we clap virtually?
● … still processing … but it was … powerful
● It felt real and emotional
● I could relate to isolating after my trauma
● Wow… you just never know the anguish a person is really going through
● The direction was interesting ni focusing on specific sections of the
online interaction
● I really appreciated that we were able to see what she was
experiencing while not explicitly going into the assault
● I wonder why she didn’t feel comfortable talking to her friends, I mean,
they’re her friends
● Sometimes you dont talk to friends and family because you dont want
others to know hows much you’re struggling
● It could feel like it’s your fault
23. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
How might stigma impact
survivors of sexual violence?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● It might make them feel obligated to not say anything. It might make them feel
like it’s for attention or people will judge them.
● Stigma may minimize the battles survivors go through.
● It often keeps people from reporting the assault
● It could keep one from coming forward
● Victim blaming
● Stigma makes it seem like you’re weak and naive
● Ppl not wanting anything to do with you anymore because ur damaged goods
● Makes you feel like no one can relate to your experience
● Feel more pressured
● Deter from seeking help because of stigma
● Gaslighting
● The “making mountains out of mole hills” comment on a serious situation
● They don’t want to hurt anyone else because you’re reporting someone
● I feel like if sexual violence doesn’t fit into the stereotypical idea of it (an evil
perpetrator who’s in a dark alley) then the survivor feels scared that their
experience iis not valid and question if they are overreacting
● Wanting to avoid being a burden
● “It was your choice to put yourself in that situation”
● Depending on the state, such as being drunk, people will not believe the story
● For MEN specifically, it is seen as a lack of masculinity
27. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
What is one word to
describe how you’re
feeling right now?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● Wowww
● That was amazing
● 🤯 .
● Overwhelmed
● Touched
● Like PTSD
● Heavy
● Anxious
● Real
● Yea heavy
● Word sof poetry turned into visual storytelling. We
don’t see this perspective often.
● “How can this act of love be the worst thing that’s
ever happened to me” I like that lin
● This is a good film for those in a relationship with a
survivor
28. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
What makes it difficult
to reach out for help?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● Ashamed
● Fear of judgement and misunderstanding
● Sometimes they feel threatened, or they don’t want the person to leave them.
Even if it hurts.
● Embarrassment
● Getting more hurt
● Guilt
● Making it worse
● Distorting image of yourself
● Having your guard up
● Not having anywhere or anyone to go to
● Making the situation real
● There are resources but people are more afraid of being seen in centers
hurting their image
● Sometimes reporting it means accepting something happened to you
● Sex is really pressued ni our society as the most intimiate way to sshow
affection, but it can be scary and anxiety-inducing for survivors going nito a
relatioinship since there’s a struggle to be intimate again
● My partner is a survivor and it’s painful for both us us but we’re working
through it as a couple and he’s grown a lot
● Thinking it was your own fault/feeling guilty about the situation
29. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
If the narrator of the film was your
friend and told you he was sexually
assaulted, what might you say to him?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● No pressure to talk about it, but I am here for you
● Tell them that their experience is valid
● I would probably just take in every word and let them vent it all
● When you are ready, I’m here for you
● I would thank him for telling me and tell him that he’s done nothing
wrong. I’d ask him what would help him feel supported.
● I would say that I’m always here for the person, regardless. Without
judgement. But I wouldn’t pressure them to talk to someone about it. It
will take time to process but you will get through it. Time only moves
forward.
● You are valid and there is not pressure to talk about it, I am here for you.
● It’s not your fault.
● It’s ok not to be ok.
● Tell them they’re valuable and worthy of real love.
● Listen and ask if he is safe and find someone or a way to help
● Remind them of the option to report it but not force them. Offering to go
with them if they choose to report.
● That bad experience doesn’t define who youuu are. I love the peron I’ve
come to know and we’ll get through this.
● Make sure theyy are in a safe living space, if they are safe at home or
school etc.
34. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
What are some ways we can
support ourselves and others?
#Movies4MentalHealth
● Looking at things through different perspectives. Don’t just think of
how it makes us feel but others as well.
● A big one is note using r*pe jokes, you never ever know who is
listening or what their story is
● Listen
● Being an ally
● Attend support groups with them
● Being mindful how you treat others, you never know what others are
going through
● Validation
● Advocating for survivors in our everyday life
● Listen, acknowledge, don’t try to lecture or fix it.
● Check up on your friends and family
● Support others, listen
● Write it out or put your emotions into a drawing
● I’m doing a fundraiser for RAINN on my instragram today for my
birthday
● Just be open to the realities of it and not inject your own opinion all
the time
● Show people they are valuable
37. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
MEET THE PANEL
bit.ly/m4mho-rcc
Casey Redd (she/her)
Student, Riverside City College
Laura Howard (she/him)
Student, Riverside City College
Lynnette Navarro Sullivan (she/her)
LMFT and LPCC, Student Health and Psychological Services, Moreno Valley College and
Norco College
Yovana Valerio (she/her)
Institution Advocate, part of the Client Care Team at the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center
38. #Poetry4MentalHealth
#Movies4MentalHealth
#Poetry4MentalHealth
Please fill out the evaluation!
@artwithimpact
info@artwithimpact.org
#Movies4MentalHealth
You can enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!
If you are receiving credit for attending this workshop, at the end of
the evaluation, you’ll be prompted to add your information to a sign-in
sheet.
Evaluation responses will remain separate and anonymous.