Mental health and mental health disorders plague the daily lives of so many people. Mental health can determine a person’s well-being and/or mental stability and can shape how we view the world. It is socially constructed and socially defined.

The “Art With Impact” project helped to bring awareness about these issues and more through “Dinner and Movies,” a mental health seminar that Laney College hosted on Oct. 29. A total of 78 students and other interested people attended the event.

“Mental health is a universal issue that affects all of us”, Art With Impact’s Ski Christianson said. Christianson who facilitated the event, did so with the help of a Power Point presentation. She elicited dialogue from the audience, asking questions and discussing topics relating to mental health.

Participants were eager to learn and remained engaged in the presentation. A series of short films — “Always Hope”, “Rinse and Repeat”, “Gladys” and “More than a Mental Illness” — moved and captivated the audience.

Each film documented the lives of individuals from around the world suffering with mental health disorders such as, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and depression.

A panel discussion was also held. Panel members included clinical psychologist Jon Stenson, 10X10 Wellness worker Cardum Harmon, Proposition 63 advocate Jennifer Whitney, and Jacinda Marshall, who is the Laney Mental Health Grant Site Supervisor and who took the floor answering questions and enlightening participants.

Marshall, who also helped to coordinate the event, shared that one of the highlights of the evening for her was the participation of Laney student Sarah Garrett.

Garrett also joined the panel discussion and shared her experience battling depression, anxiety and talked about the steps it took her to reach recovery. She advised anyone suffering from a mental illness not to be afraid to seek help and how doing so can change your life.

The event emphasized that mental illness is something you can be born with or something that develops over time. Everyone’s level of mental health is different, depending one’s gender, culture, age and society.

“One of the ways to prevent mental illness is to limit the use of drugs and alcohol since most mental illness presents itself under the influence,” Jennifer Whitney said.

Art With Impact’s mental health seminar offered an unparalleled opportunity for students, faculty and staff to come together to explore mental health topics and prevention.

Since 2011, Art With Impact has set out to bring awareness to high school and college students statewide hosting a number of campus workshops.

Its main objective is to break down the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness through the power of art and media, providing a platform for individuals to creatively share their ideas, thoughts and/or concerns. Participants left the event aware, informed and de-stigmatized.

To watch the videos listed above or to learn more about Art with Impact visit their website at www.ArtwithImpact.org.