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Swarthmore april 2018 - powerpoint
This document summarizes a campus event about using short films to discuss mental health and reduce stigma. It includes an agenda for the event with an introduction, film screenings and discussions, and a panel on personal experiences. Guidelines emphasize that mental health is personal and the event is not therapy. Discussed films portray characters with mental illness as weighed down or dangerous and how stigma feels. Suggestions are provided for what people can do to help others with mental health issues, such as listening without judgment and knowing available resources.
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Swarthmore april 2018 - powerpoint
- 1. Movies for MentalHealth Swarthmore College April 7, 2018 @artwithimpact #Movies4MentalHealth
- 2. Here’s the Plan I.Quick Introduction II. Set the Stage Together III. Watch Short Films & Discuss Them IV. Make it Personal with Our Panel
- 3. Brought to youby • Monthly Short Film Competition • Campus Workshops • Global Community (blog, IG, Twitter, FB)
- 4. Heads Up ★ Mentalhealth is personal - YOU are the expert of your own experience. ★ This is a public space - not therapy. ★ We’re here for connection, questions and creating change! ★ Films might trigger big emotions - that’s OK! ★ Please ask for help if you need support.
- 5. Stigma A judgment orstereotype that is: 1. Always negative 2. Always untrue 3. Can be internalized
- 6. The Blind Stigma ByStacy-Ann Buchanan AWI Winner, May 2015
- 7. What did younotice about stigma? - Condescending manner in which she was rebuked by adult- why are you stressing- unfair - People of color in general- “We don’t go through this”- this is a common phrase that is heard and I think it translates to many communities of color. - This film made it very clear that stigma serves to silence, and hide, and erase mental health struggles - Going back to the first comment- that condescension acts as a smokescreen for fact they don’t want to acknowledge mental health - I think some people may have the reaction of “I’m going through this same thing, why are you bringing the attention on yourself? I’m not talking about it, so why are you?”
- 8. How does stigmafeel? Belittled Limited- in capacity to communicate, move about, and be most fulfilled Isolated Self doubt, also doubting others At fault for your mental illness- feeling like a burden
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- 11. Some movies thatshow mental illness: Silver linings playbook A Beautiful Mind Good Will Hunting Forrest Gump Black Swan Mr Robot
- 12. Characters with mentalillness are portrayed as: weighed down unbalanced Dangerous Taken advantage of “non” normal having to overcome something Helpless
- 13. The Gift By SteveBastoni AWI Winner, August 2016
- 14. Discuss • What didyou think? • What did you feel?
- 15. What did youthink? What did you feel? Thoughts - Too simplistic, it seemed to resolve too quickly - There’s a vicious cycle in place of not reaching out-if you don’t reach out and find connection, whatever you’re dealing with just compounds on itself - emphasis on care very interesting- at the beginning, he was in need of care (letter said “for anyone who cares”), then it is his capacity to care that ends up being what he needs Feelings - strained down the aisle- feeling that overwhelmed buzz - feelings of discomfort based on black and white cinematography
- 16. When the FatGirl Gets Skinny By Abby Thompson AWI Winner, June 2017
- 17. Discuss • What didyou think? • What did you feel?
- 18. What did youthink? What did you feel? Thoughts -interesting to see the romanticization of MI- still damaging, even though it appears to be positive - “wanting the kind of body people would fall in love with” was a striking point - viewing illness as a success story - how did you do it- seemed like a choice, but MI is not a choice Feelings -felt impressed by the character- she demonstrated an understanding of stereotype and stigma and was able to proudly share her story among all of that.
- 19. Why don’t peopleget help? -embarrassing to admit to self and others -fear of being denied acceptance in groups, family, etc -you may be a part of community that rewards unhealthy behaviors -ton of information, don’t know what is helpful, where to start - people might have had bad experiences with MH services in the past - can become part of your identity, hard to change something you are familiar with
- 20. Little Elizabeth By ElizabethAyiku AWI Winner, February 2018
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- 22. What can wedo? -Listen- have the space where someone can feel comfortable talking to you - Be willing to be vulnerable and honest, so that other people can do that too - Know what resources are available -Nothing can get solved or fixed immediately, it’s more long term. continue to check in even after initial conversation -Also, knowing different people’s experiences with those resources, acknowledge that no resources is going to work everyone
- 23. Meet the Panel •AynNichelle Slappy - Swarthmore Student • David Ramirez - Director, Counseling and Psychological Services • Jenna Rose - Assistant Director for Students with Disabilities
- 24. AWI Ambassadors • You’reinvited! Continue the conversation, be a leader! • Join the AWI Ambassadors FB group and connect with students across North America: www.facebook.com/groups/awiambassadors/ • Blog, be a juror for the film competition, run campaigns, and much more!
- 25. Thank you forcoming! • Contact us: info@artwithimpact.org • Follow us! • Submit a film! https://www.artwithimpact.org/films/submit-a-film/
Editor's Notes
- #2 Campus organizer (may) introduce facilitator Brief introduction – welcome, name Encourage people to come closer Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and document this event - we’d love to see your photos!
- #3 Brief agenda review: - will give you a brief summary of AWI - set the stage together, which really means that as a group we’ll have a discussion and provide a context for the topics - we have four short films from our library to show you, together we’ll discuss the themes - Make it personal with a panel of campus and community resources to connect you with - You’ll be doing most of the talking today! Mention photos - if you would prefer not to have your face in photos please inform us after the event
- #4 Who is AWI? - we are a charity dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental illness with transition-aged youth, work in regions throughout North America - we have been working in the US and Canada since 2011 - We host an ongoing monthly short film competition where filmmakers anywhere in the world can submit a film on the topic of mental health, these are juried and monthly winners receive $1,000 cash prize (will tell you more about that at the end of our time together) - We then take these winning films and facilitate discussions in our postsecondary Movies for Mental Health program (you’ll see what this is all about today) and run a high school program that teaches media literacy to youth and allows them to make their own short films on mental health - Also a part of a larger global community, release blogs twice a week on feature length films, or film festivals related to themes of mental illness Brought to you by: - mention any nonprofit partners or corporate sponsors
- #5 Want to explain what I mean about this statement… Mental health is personal and our experiences are different, we all come from different backgrounds and cultures – you are the experts on YOU and know yourself better than anyone else. We don’t often talk about mental health; as a society we don’t tend to talk about issues/experiences related to this theme, so sometimes we don’t know HOW to talk about these topics. First and foremost keep yourself safe today, don’t feel compelled to share anything you’re not comfortable with. This is a new space and you might feel ready to share but might not know what responses you’ll have, and it is a public space with no guaranteed confidentiality so be mindful of the space that we are in before you disclose. Some of the films might be triggering, meaning they might elicit an emotional reaction. It’s ok to feel! But if you ever feel that you are not OK, or unsafe, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. We have counsellors in the room today that are here to help you if you need to step out (say names of counsellors, have them raise their hands in the audience).
- #6 FIRST - ask for one or two people to define “stereotype.” Really just one or two - NOT a big discussion. THEN, name that stigma and stereotype are often used interchangeably, but stigma has a few distinct qualities. Quick definition. Provide a little explanation of the third point - we can take in these judgments and believe them about ourselves, even though they’re untrue. For example, if everyone tells me that having depression is just being lazy, it’s possible that I could start to believe that myself, that I’m just lazy and don’t need to seek support. Do a quick check to see if everyone gets it and is on board - again, not a big discussion, but a “thumbs up” check or see if they’re generally nodding
- #7 15 minutes into the workshop
- #9 Can close this slide by naming that yes, stigma can be a huge negative aspect of our experience, but it’s not permanent. Through conversations like these, and by sharing our truths, we can change stigma, and reduce it, and ultimately, get rid of it entirely.
- #10 25 minutes into the workshop Introduce ways that AWI holds some concepts around MH - these may change over time, terms are evolving. Quick slide: We see mental health as an umbrella in that it is something that we are all existing under, and experiencing. Mental health can include many aspects of life. It’s our internal way of seeing the world, and something we all have and experience. Like physical health, we all have mental health, and things within and outside of ourselves can affect our mental health. Things outside of the MH umbrella, like culture, spirituality, physical health, support systems, etc. can affect our MH. There’s lots of intersectionality and influences when it comes to MH. There can be embedded and systemic influences (such as histories of oppression, privilege, access to services) and other components that influence the way we as individuals experience MH.
- #11 MI and MW are concepts that fall under the umbrella of MH. MI can be defined as when uncontrollable things happening within you and/or influenced by other things get in the way of you living the life you want to live. This can arise from trauma or be circumstantial, and can also be influenced by genetics and biology. Mental illness diagnoses are helpful for some, and for others provide more of a shared language. MI may differ between how society defines it and how we define it for ourselves. MW means feeling “well” - however you define it - in your mind and spirit. It can include practices and behaviors that support you and help you feel and be your best self. Like physical health, it requires maintenance. We don’t hold these as opposites - you can have symptoms of a mental illness, and engage in mental wellness practices. You can also not have symptoms of a MI, but still not be mentally well, if you don’t have ways of supporting your internal (and external) self.
- #13 Can close up this slide by saying yes, media portrayals are overall negative, but there are artists and filmmakers out there making films that can change this. Many of our films are made by people with lived experience, and share their genuine truths.
- #14 35 minutes into the workshop
- #17 50 minutes into the workshop
- #20 ***CAN SKIP SLIDE IF RUNNING LOW ON TIME*** Ideally, you will be able to use this slide, as it can lead to a great discussion about stigma, and how different stigmas (and other factors) can keep people from seeking support. If you think you’re running out of time, try to prompt this question in the previous “thoughts / feelings” slide so it’s at least touched on, even if you don’t use this slide.
- #21 1 hour and 5 minutes into the workshop
- #22 This slide is to give space to discussing the last film, but isn’t an in-depth thoughts/feelings slide. It should be a group conversation (not small groups), and just take a few people’s reactions to the film. Depending on time, you might need to move on quickly, but if you have time, feel free to let this be an open discussion about the film.
- #23 From what we’ve learned - actions we may be drawn to take. Be sure to encourage responses that relate to what we can do as friends, family members, and community members of people with MI, AND ALSO make sure they address what we can do for ourselves, i.e. mental wellness practices.
- #24 1 hour and 20 minutes into the workshop “Now will invite our panelists to come up. We will hear from the students, sharing their personal stories. We’re so grateful for their courage in sharing their stories! We will also hear from resources on-campus and in the community. After the panelists all speak, you will have a chance to ask the panel any questions you have. If you need to leave early, please do so respectfully, and please make sure to fill out an evaluation before you leave. This information is super helpful for us in making sure we and your school are serving your needs as well as we can. We will also pass these out at the end of the workshop.” **Applause for panelists!** They will then speak in order of how they are in the slide. At the end, you will invite questions from the audience.
- #25 1 hour and 55 minutes into the workshop AWI exists to create a community of students, artists, advocates, who want to have these conversations...if you’re interested in staying in touch with us and becoming a part of a larger community of students across N. America who believe in the power of art to subvert stigma