As we near the end of May and Mental Health Awareness Month, FableVision wants to make sure that the conversations surrounding mental health are not limited to these thirty one days. As we continue to #BreakTheStigma and work towards normalizing conversations about mental health and wellness, we believe that these important topics should be discussed all year long. And as many of us continue to spend more time in our homes these days, it is not only important that we continue to look after our own mental health, but also lend a helping hand to others who may be struggling.
Take a look at our list of resources to help you have open and honest conversations about mental health, practice self-love and healthy coping skills, and learn and flourish - any day of the year!
Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story (Massachusetts Department of Mental Health)
It can be difficult for many children to share their worries and express how they feel to others. To normalize conversations about mental health and show kids that “it’s okay to not feel okay,” FableVision teamed up with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Walker Cares to create Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story, a multimedia campaign that aims to fight the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Consisting of a graphic novel, animated film, and accompanying print resources, Isaac’s Story shares the experiences of Isaac and his friend Mia as they describe their recent stays in the hospital, Mia for her broken leg and Isaac for his anxiety. The campaign draws parallels between mental and physical health without relying on harmful stereotypes.
Watch the film, order your free copy of the book (available to all Massachusetts residents), and download additional family and educator resources on the Isaac’s Story site.
The Reflection in Me (Marc Colagiovanni)
How we view ourselves can have a huge impact on our mental health. That’s why FableVision teamed up with attorney turned storyteller and filmmaker Marc Colagiovanni to create The Reflection in Me, an animated film that spreads positivity and lets you know “you are perfectly perfect just the way you are!”
The film follows a child's journey of self-love and motivates viewers to look deeper within and appreciate who they are. Drawing on the importance of acceptance, this heartwarming and uplifting film promotes a message of self-love as we see the child in the film is motivated by their reflection to accept who they truly are: perfectly perfect.
The full film is available on YouTube. Visit the FableVision website for more information about the film, its creator, and FableVision Studios.
Sesame Street in Communities Spinners (Sesame Workshop)
Help your children grow smarter, kinder, and stronger! In partnership with Sesame Workshop, FableVision created two spinner engine interactives for Sesame Street in Communities, an online tool that provides parents and providers with access to information and activities directed to help them better care for and educate young children.
Encourage children to get up on their feet with “Grover’s Playground Workout,” an interactive that helps children have fun while exercising. Players spin a wheel and land on a random monster or pick a monster of their own choosing that then models up to three different moves for children and parents to imitate. Or learn coping strategies with the help of your favorite Sesame Street characters in “A Little Help from My Furry Friends.” Each selected monster showcases their own video to help children understand and develop skills to cope with stress and anxiety.
Project Here Games (The Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Health Resources in Action, and the GE Foundation)
To help promote healthy decision-making strategies and change the status quo of substance use prevention education, FableVision teamed up with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, GE foundation, and Health Resources in Action to create Project Here Games, a social emotional learning app that serves as part of the Massachusetts statewide Project Here initiative.
Combining popular and relevant games with an upbeat interactive structure, Project Here Games consists of varying mini-games surrounding coping methods, decision-making, communication, and myth-busting. Players travel through the games by applying their earned skills to solve life-like scenarios. Using effective communication and mindfulness, players are able to see what impact these skills can have on situations while in a safe space.
Created with an underlying curriculum, these interactives consist of meaningful lessons that inform children about the risks of substance abuse as well as assess their knowledge on the subject. This research-based interactive experience grants prevention education a new and useful tool for substance education, overall positively impacting the mental and physical health of Massachusetts’ future.
