Starting today, businesses, organizations, schools, clubs, churches, and everyone in-between can help build the Mental Health 417 Stories Project collection of community stories.
Through pop-up storytelling stations, the people who work for and visit your building can take a moment to write and submit their story to inspire hope, instill resilience and display humanity for everyone who walks past.
What’s in a storytelling station?
Each storytelling station comes with everything you’ll need to submit your story:
- Signage that explains the project
- Mental Health 417 Stories Project submission cards (quantity varies by location)
- Locked submission box to ensure submitted stories remain anonymous
- Stories display with past story submissions, providing new participants a chance to get inspiration and read stories of hope (display size varies by location)
- Four clipboards in case participants need a writing surface
- Mental Health 417 pens and rack cards (quantity varies by location)
Everything included in a storytelling station is provided on loan for two weeks at your desired location (but you can keep the pens and rack cards).
What’s a good location for a storytelling station?
We’ll bring a station anywhere! But, we have one rule and a couple suggestions.
The rule:
Keep the station in a place where it can be monitored by staff.
The suggestions:
- Set the station up in a place where people will have time to explore (like waiting rooms, front offices, individual classrooms, cafeterias)
- Provide seating and writing surfaces near the station (the comfier the better)
If you’re ready to host a storytelling station
Reach out to the Mental Health 417 team through our resource request form. We’ll get in touch with you and make a plan for your station!
If all stations are currently on location, we’ll add you to a waitlist and notify you when a station is ready! You can also share your story anytime online.
Why storytelling?
Sharing your story and reading other stories of hope and resilience can make a huge impact.
According to the World Health Organization,
Stories are at the heart of human existence and people are hardwired to respond to them. Stories provide meaning to facts and allow individuals to connect with the information being conveyed, both intellectually and emotionally. Evidence from neuroscience, psychology and behavioral science shows that storytelling has the power to change how people think and to influence their behavior.
The words you share could be the exact thing someone else needs to hear. If we all make an effort to be vulnerable and open about our lives, it can help break down mental health stigma and encourage positive mental health behaviors.
Whenever you’re ready to share your story and help others share theirs, we’re here with an open door.