2. About Your Facilitator
L’Oréal McCollum
L’Oréal McCollum, MSW, M.Ed.,
is a sexuality and mental health
educator, consultant, and actress,
based in Philadelphia. She is
thrilled to be working with AWI to
create space for young people to
learn and connect through art and
media - two of her greatest loves.
IG: @lorealmccollum
3. Brought to you by…
• Campus workshops
• Monthly short film competition
• Short film production grants
• Global community
#Movies4MentalHealth
4. Here’s the Plan
• Quick Introduction
• Setting the scene together
• Mental Health
• Stigma
• Watch and discuss films
• Panel of students and resources
#Movies4MentalHealth
5. Where were you right before
coming to the workshop?
#Movies4MentalHealth
6. Heads Up
• Mental health is personal – YOU are the expert on your
own experience
• Public space – no confidentiality
• It’s okay to feel!
• Films and conversations might be triggering
• Please take care of yourself however you need,
including asking for help
• If you don’t want your photo taken, please let us know
#Movies4MentalHealth
9. MH Across Languages and
Cultures
If English is not your first language, does your
language have words for mental health, mental
illness and mental wellness?
Do these concepts exist in your home culture?
10. Some movies and tv shows that
show mental illness…
Grey’s Anatomy
13 Reasons Why
BoJack Horseman
Breaking Bad
Atypical
Jane the Virgin
Forrest Gump
Orange is the New Black
Silver Lining’s Playbook
A Star is Born
Shutter Island
#Movies4MentalHealth
11. Characters with mental illness
are portrayed as…
Weak
Attention-seeking
Selfish
Unstable
Comedic relief
Homeless
Dramatic
“Crazy”
Dead
Needy
Sexualized/Hypersexual
#Movies4MentalHealth
16. Discuss in groups of three…
• What did you think?
• What did you feel?
#Movies4MentalHealth
17. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts
Relatable and realistic
Once you know that people are
struggling with similar
challenges, it makes it easier
to relate and be more open
about your own experiences.
It highlighted the truth of her
experiences, how she treats
herself.
The use of sound, particularly
the heartbeat, was impactful
and effective.
It doesn’t stop when you’re
older.
Feelings
Relatable
Felt comforting that it showed
challenges across the gender
spectrum.
18. How did the filmmaking
techniques help tell the story?
Use of sound (the heart beat)
The use of captions
The use of light (darkness to reflect her own
darkness and light to reflect her internal
enlightenment)
The use of mirrors to reflect herself and beliefs,
thoughts, etc.
Third person omniscient perspective
The change in outfits (including necklace)
The lack of dialogue
#Movies4MentalHealth
19. A to Z
by Fenny Wang
AWI WINNER, JULY 2017
#Movies4MentalHealth
Content heads up: eating disorders
20. Discuss in groups of three…
• What did you think?
• What did you feel?
#Movies4MentalHealth
21. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts
Really simple, but effective
No characters (relatable)
Very interesting to choose a
masculine voice.
Depicting the person going
through the process of
seeking resources.
Interesting that the alphabet
soup went from factual words
to more negative and
internalized ones.
Hearing their thoughts helped
to “feel” their isolation.
Depicted a progression,
uncertain about timeline.
Feelings
“I’m fine” was very impactful.
That is often used to avoid
having a conversation.
Mixed emotions about the quick
transition from “I’m fine” to
what came next.
Difference of opinion about the
“I’m fine”
22. Why don’t people get help?
Denial, “I don’t have a problem,” diet culture
Scared of getting better, losing an identity
Stigma, afraid of being judging
Getting a diagnosis
Don’t want to be a burden
Lack of motivation, knowledge
Art and creativity and mental health are often
intertwined which complicates things
Getting help means that the person can’t solve
on own.
Don’t have the courage to ask for help.
#Movies4MentalHealth
24. Responses and Reactions?
#Movies4MentalHealth
It’s too easy to get caught in the same routine every single day and
sometimes people feel that they lose purpose when they get caught.
Poetically beautiful
Time lapse scene was interesting because it depicted the sense of being
alone when surrounded by others.
Started off with everyday sounds, became dull, and then grew to include
music.
Interesting that society was being depicted as mechanic and competitive
and how that can affect our internal experiences.
The purchase of the camera brought to light his interest in the art.
Liked how it depicted the joy of life despite the challenges of our society.
The camera as a metaphor for perspective and purpose
Surviving vs Thriving
25. What can we do?
Continue the conversation
If (and when) you can, tell your own story AND listen to others
Recognize and break stigmas
Be aware of resources that can help you and/or others experiences
challenges
Seek to understand and learn from others and when possible. teach what
you know and have learned.
#Movies4MentalHealth
27. Meet the Panel
Danielle Stone
Xavier University Student
Delaney Sprague
Xavier University Student
Jamie Baxter
Director, Counseling Services, Xavier University
Nancy Eigel-Miller
Executive Director, 1N5
Larry Lindeman
Director of Mental Health Services, Talbert House
#Movies4MentalHealth
28. Stay in touch!
Don’t forget to leave your name
and email on the sign-up sheet!
@artwithimpact
info@artwithimpact.org
#Movies4MentalHealth
