Natalie Cook facilitated a mental health workshop at Centennial College. The workshop included short films about mental health issues, a discussion with a student panel, and exercises like breathing and body scans. Participants discussed how mental illness is portrayed in media, the impact of stigma, and ways to support personal wellness and others, such as kindness and community. The workshop aimed to help participants feel less alone and learn self-care practices.

2. meet your facilitator
Natalie Cook (she/her)
● Poet
● Filmmaker

3. brought to you by…
● Campus workshops
● Short film competitions
● Short film production grants
● Global community

4. land acknowledgement
Centennial College is proud to be a part of a rich history of
education in this province and in this city. We acknowledge that
we are on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the
Credit First Nation and pay tribute to their legacy and the legacy
of all First Peoples of Canada, as we strengthen ties with the
communities we serve and build the future through learning and
through our graduates. Today the traditional meeting place of
Toronto is still home to many Indigenous People from across
Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work
in the communities that have grown in the treaty lands of the
Mississaugas. We acknowledge that we are all treaty people and
accept our responsibility to honour all our relations.

5. here’s the plan
● Setting the scene together
● Watch and discuss films, connect our
minds and bodies
● Panel of students and resources
● Evaluation (and a chance to enter to
win $25!)
● Mingle / Q&A

6. heads up
● Mental health is personal – YOU are the
expert on your own experience
● This is a public, shared space
● Some photos will be taken during the
panel - please let us know if you are not
comfortable with that
● Please take care of yourself and others
however you need, including asking for
help

7. In Just a Few Words…
What has self-care been
looking like for you these days?
● Sleep
● Meditation
● Vegetables and Fruits
● Exercise
● Doodling
● Cutting out toxic people
● Yoga
● Cooking
● Mental games
● Setting boundaries
● Painting
● Hiking

8. MENTAL HEALTH

9. MENTAL HEALTH
Mental illness
Mental wellness

10. Some movies and TV
shows that show mental
illness…
● SAW
Split
Inside Out
13 Reasons Why
The Accountant
The Joker
Seven Psychopaths
Silver Lining Playbook
The Purge
Dear Child

11. Characters with mental
illness are portrayed as…
●Brainwashed
Delusional
Emotionless
People to be feared
“Slutty”/Promiscuous

12. MH Across Cultures
Across different cultures and languages, people
talk about and explore mental health in multiple
ways.
In just a few words, please share:
How have you experienced the concept of
"mental health" within your own cultural
communities?

13. A judgment or stereotype that is:
● Always negative
● Always untrue
● Can be internalized
What is stigma?

14. Mind Matters
By Josef Adamu
AWI Winner, November 2019
CONTENT HEADS UP
depression, stigma, alcohol use

15. IN PAIRS...
What did you think?
How did you feel?

16. SHARE WITH US:
What did you think?
How did you feel?
● Relatable
● The emotional language expressed in
silence
● Symbolism of chain that represented a
barrier
● The everyday moments
● Symbolism of water (the feeling of
drowning)
● The dissonance in expectation vs what we
receive from our parents/guardians
● The authentic portrayal of someone’s
breaking point… pressure (inspiring)
● The immense pressure put on the eldest
child
● The cycle of repression
● Lack of empathy

17. How does stigma feel?
●

18. What makes it difficult
to reach out for help?
● People weaponizing what
we’re going through
against us; causing us to
believe that we’re “weak”
● When we gaslight
ourselves
● Feeling “embarrassed”
● Pretentiousness
● Lack of accessibility to
resources
● Pride
● People minimizing what

19. Breathing
Exercise

20. Self Reflection
How was this breathing
exercise for you?

21. Are You Hungry?
By Rachel Rose & Belen Garcia
VWI Winner, 2023
CONTENT HEADS UP
Depiction of Abuse, Strong Language, Brief Vomiting

22. IN PAIRS...
What did you think?
How did you feel?

23. SHARE WITH US:
What did you think?
How did you feel?
● Society needs to change
● Unheard and isolated
● Kindness goes a long way
● Friendship and community
● The importance of your chosen family
● 1 person 1 conversation
● Mandatory curriculum
● If you put in effort, the other person will
put in effort

24. Lets Go Deeper..

25. What are some practices that
help support your wellness?
●

26. Body Scan

27. Self Reflection
How was this body
scan for you?

28. Fortune Cookie
By Fu Yang
Voices With Impact 2023
CONTENT HEADS UP
Depictions of Burnout

29. How can we support
ourselves and others?
● Remind yourself to take a
break
● No can be a completr
e=setence
● Fighting inner demons
and how it consumes you;
fortune cookie in the
shape of a circle
● We keep giving our
emotional selves away and
will be depleted if we’re not
replensished

30. panel
Round of applause for our panel!

31. meet the panel
Chloe Espin
Centennial Student
Adanna Anucha
Counsellor - Centre for Accessible Learning and
Counselling Services
Roma Rashidi
Counsellor - Centre for Accessible Learning and
Counselling Services
Flavia Geno
Counsellor - Centre for Accessible Learning and
Counselling Services

32. Ask a question or share a thought!
Panel Q&A

33. Thanks for your feedback!
You can enter for a chance to win a $25 gift!
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 form.
Evaluation responses will remain separate and
anonymous.
bit.ly/progress-surveys

34. Stay in touch!
Don’t forget to sign
in if you haven’t!

35. Your voice counts.
You can enter for a chance to win a $25 gift!
Please fill out our evaluation form.
bit.ly/aaaa