Brandon University Fights Stigma of Mental Illness Through Film

This upcoming October during Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) Brandon University will host “Movies for Mental Health,” a workshop conducted in partnership with Student Services and North American organization Art With Impact. The event will take place on campus on October 2 from 4:30 – 6:30pm in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. This two-hour workshop is one of many taking place on college and university campuses this academic year, and the first time to be offered at Brandon U.

“Movies for Mental Health is a program tat makes a difference through facilitating meaningful conversations about mental health and highlighting path wards to supports and services. The program provides an alternate and effective model for destigmatizing sensitive topics associated with addiction and mental health in support of creating a flourishing campus community.” – Marsha Harris, personal counsellor at Brandon University.

Movies for Mental Health is a free workshop and dinner will be provided for attendees. The workshop consists of a facilitated discussion, viewing of three short films from the OLIVE Film Collection on the topic of mental health, and a community and campus resource panel connecting attendees with accessible mental health resources in the region. This event is open to students, staff, and faculty of the university as well as to community members. It is generally supported by the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation and the Healthy Together Now fund from Prairie Mountain Health.

Quick Facts (customize to region if needed)

• 75% of all mental health concerns have their onset during childhood or adolescence. Half of all lifetime cases begin by age 14, three-quarters by age 24, yet only one in five young people get the mental health help they need.
• Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.
• Manitoba has higher suicide attempt rates than Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia (CBC)

About Art With Impact

Art With Impact is a charitable organization that promotes mental wellness by creating safe spaces for young people to learn and connect through film, reducing stigma and connecting students to accessible mental health resources. To learn more, please visit www.artwithimpact.org or follow along at @artwithimpact / #Movies4MentalHealth.