This document summarizes a workshop on sexual violence and mental health. It introduces the facilitator, Carly Weckstein, and describes how the workshop is funded by a tax on high incomes in California. The plan includes an introduction, monologues, activities, and a panel. Guidelines are presented for participants to feel safe, including taking care of oneself if needed. Two monologues portraying survivors are presented, along with discussion questions. An activity encourages embodied exploration of emotions. The panel introduces three speakers working on these issues at San Diego State University. Participants are encouraged to stay connected with resources.

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San Diego State University
September 9, 2021

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About Your Facilitator
Carly D. Weckstein, she/her
● Theatre Director
● Intimacy Director/Coordinator
● Sex Educator
● Book Nerd + Cat Lover
IG: @thespomancer

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Brought to you by…
● Campus workshops
● Monthly film competition
● Short film production grants
● Global community
● Mental Health Services Act (2004)
● 1% tax on people earning >$1m/year
● 20% to prevention and early intervention

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Here’s the Plan
• Introductory conversation
• Monologues and activities
• Panel of speakers

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Heads Up
• Mental health is personal – YOU are the expert on your own
experience
• Public space – no confidentiality
• It’s okay to feel, and it’s okay to be uncomfortable
• Conversations and activities might be triggering
• Please take care of yourself however you need,
including asking for help
• If you don’t want your photo shared, please let us know

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Group Agreements - What do you need
to feel as safe and supported as
possible here today?
•Practice an inclusive intersectional lens in conversation
•Practice respect and care in how we talk about mental health and
sexual violence, they are very personal charged topics
•Open minds, open hearts
•Use “I” statements, don’t assume to speak for anyone else
•No judgement
•No side conversations, pay attention when someone is speaking
•No touching other people during activities / Ask before you touch in
workshop space in general
•Permission to take care of yourself however you need (step away, get
support, leave, etc.)
•Be mindful when sharing, not sharing details that could be potentially
triggering to others

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Sexual Violence Survivor
Personal definition

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• Personal definition
• Has been through a potentially
traumatic sexual/intimate experience,
or set of experiences
Sexual Violence Survivor

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• Personal definition
• Has been through a potentially traumatic sexual/
intimate experience, or set of experiences
• 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
Sexual Violence Survivor

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• Personal definition
• Has been through a potentially traumatic sexual/
intimate experience, or set of experiences
• 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
• Mental health and mental wellness - impacts of traumatic event
and ability to be full self
Sexual Violence Survivor

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What are ways that sexual violence
might impact survivors?
- feeling “dirty”, violated, used, impure
- feelings of self-blame, self-judgement
- PTSD, trauma, stress
- distrust for people around you, distrust in relationships
- feelings of anger, rage, hate
- ruin your confidence
- feeling anxious
- impacts future sex life
- loss or increase of libido, and feeling weird about it
- impacts sexual confidence and confidence in choosing
sexual partners
- depression
- anxiety, panic attacks
- loss of trust and doubt your own judgement of others

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Monologue
Jesse, 18, she/her

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In small groups…
•Read the monologue out loud
•Discuss initial reactions

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How does Jesse seem to feel?
- anxious
- guilty
- frustrated
- stressed
- like she’s a disappointment
- out of it, dissociating
- afraid
- abused
- annoyed at her mom
- living a double life

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What thoughts might Jesse be
having?
- “the one time I…”
- “my mom tells me to be a good girl”, relatable
narrative in many cultures
- mom only comments on her “unlady like tones”,
survivors questioning their femininity or masculinity
- “I wonder if people can tell”, self conscious
- “you’re smarter than that”
- POC identity, weight of parents’ sacrifices, be more
grateful
- “I’m still expected to do more”
- her mom is making her feel like her mental health is
irrelevant unless it impacts her grades
- questioning her own identity and how people see her

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Activity:
Walk As and Statues

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Monologues
Rona, 18, she/they
Jill, 51, she/her

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In small groups…
•Read both monologues out loud
•Discuss initial reactions

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RONA
(she/they)
JILL
(she/her)
JESSE
(she/her)
Feelings:
confused, anxious,
out of the loop,
helpless
Message:
I don’t really care
about you
Message:
I only care about your
mental health if it
affects your grades
Feelings:
worried, in denial,
anxious, shut out
Feelings: It really sucks
a lot to not feel cared
for by people who are
supposed to have my
back

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Changing the Message
Jesse, 18, she/he
Jill, 51, she/her
How can Jill change the message she is giving Jesse so that it’s in
line with Jill’s feelings, and has a positive impact on Jesse?

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Scene
Exploration
Jesse, 18, she/her
Rona, 18, she/they

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What can we do?
- be vulnerable with others, practice openness
- be aware of the people around you, especially people close
to you, check in on them and open up to them
- remember that deep conversations with people we love are
important even if they are hard to have or start sometimes
- be genuine with your friends, ask how they are really doing
and make space for answers besides “fine” to be ok
- show love and care through acts of kindness and service like
making them delicious food (mug cake!)
- let survivors know that their healing can happen on their
own timeline, don’t rush or pressure them to talk before they
are ready, let them lead and have agency
- let people know you care even in low-key subtle ways, doesn’t
always have to be a big thing, show small acts of love
- offer survivors options, always respect their choice
- believe survivors, trust them and believe them if and when
they choose to disclose to you

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Panel

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Meet the Panel
bit.ly/obom-sdsu
Margot Ermer (she/her)
Vice President of Philanthropy, College Panhellenic Association,
San Diego State University
Elzbeth Islas (she/her)
Director, SDSU Women's Resource Center (WRC)
Melanie Amacker (she/her)
Health Promotion Specialist, Well-being & Health Promotion,
San Diego State University https://sacd.sdsu.edu/health-promotion

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Stay in touch!
Don’t forget to leave
your name and email on
the sign-up sheet!
@artwithimpact
info@artwithimpact.org