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Supporting mental health through arts & culture initiatives

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Why does it even matter?

A unique conversation that breaks down what impacts our thinking and what that means for our sense of peace.

Happens tomorrow evening from 6:30 PM-8:00 PM at the Sabon Literary Salon, at @alexandrawriters in cSPACE Marda Loop.

Registration info in link in bio or use https://perlinfoundation.com/links.

See you there!

#mentalhealth #artists #creatives #wellbeing #literacy #organizing #thinking

Join us this Sunday for another monthly artists' wellness meetup via Zoom. Happening from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Sunday evening.

Register via link in bio or use https://perlinfoundation.com/links. We'll highlight the overall energies for the month and dive into support for each other's practices.

Whether you're seeking support for your identity as an artist, or for your role as a human, we'll hold space for you.

#wellbeing #artists #creatives #yycarts #mentalhealth

Tomorrow evening we gather at @alexandrawriters Literary Salon for another week of 'Why does it even matter?'

This is a low cost, low risk, low key group therapy session that uses juxtaposition to help you organize your thinking. Registration information is in the link in our bio!

#yyc #Calgary #art #wellbeing #mentalhealth

Feeling the blues this January? Why not join us at the Literary Salon from 6 PM-9 PM this Monday!

Register via link in bio or use: https://www.perlinfoundation.com/links

The Alexandra Writers Centre (@alexandrawriters) and the Perlin Foundation for Wellbeing invite you to join us on Blue Monday for an evening of improv and personal storytelling - written and oral - designed to chase away the winter doldrums.

Along with special guest, Nicole Zylstra (@zedder), we will laugh, we may cry, and we will find joy in the things around us.

#yycarts #artists #writers #creatives #Calgary #BlueMonday #BlueSkyCity

Sing it from the rooftops, our next Artists' Wellness Meetup is happening this Sunday, from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM.

Register for this free virtual event via the link in our bio.

We connect to chat about the overall vibe of the times, what practices might support your creative/artistic practice (whatever your medium), and how we can celebrate the little things.

#yycarts #artists #creatives #wellbeing #mentalhealth #community

Maybe you have a chronic condition or are simply overwhelmed with where to start taking care of your thinking. We've got a fun, playful, and creative approach at our weekly workshops.

Held Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM in the Literary Salon, at @alexandrawriters in cSPACE. Link to register is in the bio.

We all feel heavy at times, swing by to lighten your mental load.

#mentalhealth #Calgary #workshops #creatives #wellbeing

Looking for a comfortable way to get out, be creative, and lighten your mental load?

Join us for an art-fueled weekly workshop to help you heal, celebrate your identity, and reframe what wellbeing means to you.

Happens on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society in cSPACE (Unit 460, 4th floor).

We kick off the 2026 season on 13 January. Learn more and register: https://events.humanitix.com/wdiem0113 (or use link in bio).

#yycarts #art #workshops #yyclearning #Calgary #calgaryliving #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #wellbeing

Next week, why not join us for a warm cuppa and all the feels, as we meet IN PERSON for our last Artists' Monthly Wellness Meetup of 2025.

We'll be holding down the fort at @semanticscafeyyc from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM. You're encouraged to purchase a delicious treat as a thank you to the venue for hosting us!

Let's wrap up the year together! Art worksheets will be available for you to get colourful, reframe your experiences, and ground yourself so you can leave feeling lighter!

#yycarts #artists #creatives #creativescommunity #wellbeing #community #holiday #gathering

Next week's workshop promises to be a delicious experience! You're welcome to join us in sampling foods made as medicine to balance anxiety and depression. Backed by research and years of putting them into practice, you'll learn why they work and how you can modify them to align with your unique needs.

Register through link in bio.

Options for all dietary needs are available. Let us know! *We'll be covering a range of sources for anxiety and depression, including chronic and autoimmune conditions, hormones, gut health, and more.

#yyclearning #workshops #brainhealth #food #cookingclass #homemade #health #wellness

It's another edition of our weekly salon-series workshop, Why Does it Even Matter? We continue to break down the building blocks of our thinking, the Universe, and how we make meaning in an effort to enhance our sense of peace.

You're welcome to jump into the conversation, all you need is your curiosity. All materials and workbook are provided. See you there!

Learn more and register through link in bio. Hosted by the fabulous @alexandrawriters at cSPACE.

#yycarts #mentalhealth #wellbeing #lawsoftheuniverse #whydoes #workshop #yyclearning

Our blog post this month is adapted from a recent speech given by our Chair at @loudartsociety 's 10th Anniversary Gala. It includes recent facts and figures from impact research that support the role of artists in our economy and society.

Read via link in our bio.

*It's by no means exhaustive; there are plenty more sources to get curious and read about.

Ultimately, we don't think that we need saving; we believe that empowered action through advocacy is the way forward. Let's get informed and celebrate the many ways that the arts, and artists, are creating a sustainable future for all.

#yycarts #artist #creative #future #arts #artsandculture #community #wellbeing

After a few sessions, we've re-worked this pilot program's name to "Why does it even matter?" Because the mental health conversation can be convoluted. Why does mental health matter? Or building understanding about what affects our thinking?

It all started because we're holding space for you to remember that you're okay. That we can accept ourselves for who we are. That healing means remembering our wholeness and coming back to being ourselves.

Use link in bio to register or: https://bit.ly/4oiuzPK

So, yes. A different name and registration link. Same Tuesday night salon-style series for us to learn, connect, and use art to reinforce our identities. We'd love to see you there.

Happens from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society (4th floor, cSPACE) Salon. No artistic experience necessary. Workbook and materials are provided.

#yycarts #mentalhealth #wellbeing #community #artists #workshop #yyclearning

In their June 2023 article, Using the Medicine Wheel as theory, conceptual framework, analysis, and evaluation tool in health research, the researchers helped to explain some of the complex teachings facilitated through the story and tradition of the Medicine Wheel.

Read the article via Science Direct here: https://bit.ly/4oAXjDz

Angela Mashford-Pringle and Amy Shawanda are both teachers and leaders within the public health space in Canada. Their article is one of the most robust that we've found, presenting a well-rounded perspective on wellbeing that the tradition supports.

#indigenous #mentalhealth #research #wellbeing #community

After our test workshop and first session, our attendees asked to double the number! So, we're running this weekly series through to February 2026.

Learn more and register here: https://events.humanitix.com/mapping-your-inner-worlds-part-2

Bring your questions and don't worry if you've missed a previous workshop; we've designed them to build on wherever you are. Workbooks and creative mapping tools are included.

#innerworld #mapping #beliefs #innerknowing #intuition #realitymapping #divination

"Your assumption when reading this title (Time is a Therapist) may be that, "Oh, of course. Time heals all wounds, as they say." Which isn't the truth. What moves you will always matter, to varying degrees."

Read on our blog through the link in bio.

#mentalhealth #healingjourney #familyestrangement #safespaces #lovealways

Join us this Sunday afternoon at @sparrow.artspace for a fun and playful approach to emotional well-being. Registration is only $5, and materials are provided. No previous experience necessary!

Register via link in bio, or use: https://events.humanitix.com/young-at-heart-art-ful-play

#yycarts #yycliving #therapeuticarts #expressiveartstherapy #puppets #learningthroughplay #wellbeing #mentalhealth #arts

In the recently published study, Community-driven mental health priorities for immigrant youth in Alberta, researchers partnered with nonprofits and community organizations.

Read the study here: https://bit.ly/47QDwto

The collaboration from Syeda Farwa Naqvi, Mungunzul Amarbayan, Gina Dimitropoulos, Jennifer Zwicker, and Maria Jose Santana brought insights from the medical, social work, and public policy fields together.

#newcomer #immigrant #mentalhealth #research #wellbeing #communitywellbeing

Join us for a new workshop series, as part of our "Art as Medicine" Art for Social Change program. We're hosting these sessions at the @alexandrawriters Salon, on comfy couches and in a more intimate setting.

Registration link in bio or use: https://bit.ly/47rvatG

"Mapping Your Inner Worlds" is the first, as we celebrate our identity and how we organize our thinking. We'll touch broadly on belief systems, and then Stacey will lead a 20-minute meditation for the group. The intention is for you to become more aware of how the stories you tell yourself shape your identity and inner world.

Bring an open mind and your curiosity about the invisible worlds within us.

#innerwisdom #innerknowing #intuition #wellbeing #identity #artforsocialchange #writers #artists #yycarts

While the First Nations Health Authority primarily focuses on guiding the health of the BC First Nations, many of the council doctors and researchers work between Alberta and British Columbia.

This tool, and their robust database developed to support health outcomes, can be utilized to improve your knowledge base, the working relationship between health professionals, and support connections in your wellness community. Read more: https://bit.ly/49DW9mH

#Indigenous #mentalhealth #wellbeing #communityhealth #wellness

Happening this Sunday at 6:30 PM, our Monthly Wellness Meetup for Artists happens virtually on Zoom.

Register using the link in our bio.

We'd love to see you there for this gathering, supporting where we are in our process, and celebrating where you want to go.

#artists #yycarts #wellbeing #community #artforlife #mentalhealth

Happening tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, please join in person and via Zoom to learn from Dr. Patricia Silveira, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the HERO study.

Canadian HERO Study, Identifying markers of stress activation and resilience in young children. Presented by the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education and the Palix Foundation.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/themathisoncentreformentalhealthresearcheducation/1833752

#yyc #mentalhealth #ACES #resilience #family #wellbeing

In partnership with Alberta Blue Cross, the Psychology Benefit Program, Ni Natoohtaan, provides funding to Métis citizens to access 12 sessions with a psychologist or Social Worker for complex mental health needs.

Program application opens Oct. 20th, 2025. Program applications will close once the first 100 applications have been approved.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/48xUtuC.

If you aren’t ready to talk to someone in person, that is okay too. There is another option for you! Homewood Health has a website where you can find different tools to help you on your mental health journey. There are videos, articles, and more available to you for FREE. Visit homeweb.ca to start exploring the tools at your disposal.

#metis #mentalhealth #metis #alberta #Otipemisiwak #indigenous #wellbeing

Looking forward to this one! See you there, 12:00 PM on Thurs, 23 Oct.

"Unpacking Passive Ableism & Challenging Our Biases

The Social Model of Disability and the idea of ableism are not new. But in daily practice, they are often ignored.

This Lunch & Learn will look at how the medical view of disability still shapes many institutions and is quietly being brought back into the programs and services we use every day. We will then discuss how we can push back against this trend and find better ways forward.

Presenter: Patti Desjardine, PhD, Assistant Adjunct Professor, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, University of Calgary"

Please note that participants are required to register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sDsd6fesSpykC-2JNDPqCQ

#disabilityawareness #mentalhealth #bias #health #wellbeing

We'll be joining in the fun this Saturday at the South Calgary Wellness Fair!

Stop by our booth for a colourful craft that you can customize and take home with you. We'll also have some games and information on a wealth of mental health resources.

*FREE food baskets for the first 100 families!

#mentalhealthresearch #yycevents #community #yycfamilies #wellbeing #wellness

The Canadian Paediatric Society's Antiracism in Medical Education Working Group published "Antiracism in medical education: A resource for faculty, presenters, learners and others" earlier this year.

The tool has been designed to be practical, facilitating the necessary questions to consider when building resources and learning aids. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3L9Qs5G

#antiracism #mentalhealth #awareness #community #wellbeing #newcomer

Preventative health practices to improve our quality of life sit on the shoulders of those who value it and have the capacity to do the work.

An economic incentive, such as saving money by prolonging life or creating more efficient systems to facilitate the end of life, can often justify a conversation.

However, it will inevitably return to an economic argument against it. Because we cannot focus on what we're getting away from.

We must hone in on what we are working toward, and defining what we want is not an easy task.

Read more in our latest blog post. https://bit.ly/4nCSR6P or use link in bio.

#communitywellbeing #facingreality #languagematters #mentalhealth

Our next workshop happens in person. This group coaching session consists of short presentation, group discussion, and peer-supported learning breakout session.

Bring your curiousity, your passion for community collaboration, and let's have some fun creating/reinforcing initiatives that spark healing through play, arts, and culture!

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/BFLOct25Workshop

Mental health can be confusing. We'd all like to feel connected when faced with confusing conversations. From our research and numerous community-based projects, we share common scenarios. These stories will save you from information overwhelm and get you on track to feeling more confident in your efforts to support your community's wellbeing.

#workshop #yyc #yyclearning #Calgary #lifelonglearning #mentalhealth #wellbeing #wellness #communitywellbeing

You're invited to a community gathering that's fueled by art and culture!

Join us tomorrow night at Lantern-Fest by the @iaaccyyc , as we facilitate a conversation with attendees between 5 PM-6:45 PM at the Southview Community Hall.

We'll be talking about the intersection of arts, culture, and mental health!

#yycevents #yycarts #LanternFest2025 #yycfamilies #yyc #familyfun

Today we join @pokaiks again to support their walk and gathering. Youre warmly invited to participate, learn, honour, and reflect in a variety of ways. Find us in the kids area, with colouring, activities, abd more that support emotional regulation, healthy brain development, and mental health literacy.

#truthandreconciliationday #truthandreconciliation #yycarts #yycevents #yycfamilies #artismedicine #communitywellbeing #cometogether

This Sunday, we're back for another session of the Artists' Wellness Meetup. (We delayed a week as it's a demanding month!)

We'd love to see you at this virtual gathering of the minds (and hearts!) on Sunday, 28 September at 6:30 PM for an hour. It's free to attend. Registration link in bio.

#yycarts #yycartists #artists #creatives #wellbeing #neurodivergent #wellbeing #mentalwellness #mentalhealth

This event is an incredible resource fair for the community. We are grateful to be a sponsor for this event and will be providing resources and games for the kids!

#yycmentalhealth #yycevents #resourcefair #wellbeing #community #outreach #clothingpopup #yycmusicscene

We're out and about this weekend, holding space for peace and self-awareness. You can find us at the 4th Annual Peace in the Park music festival in Airdrie from noon until 5:00 PM. We'll have our fun brain development and mental health activities for you to enjoy!

#PeaceinthePark #Airdrieevents #musicfestival #communitywellbeing

Happening this Sunday, we'll be joining the festivities with our brain-fueling fun! Join us to create art, regulate your emotions, and be part of the celebration at this year's Art Walk, presented by @iaaccyyc on 14 Sept from 11 AM-3 PM.

#UnityPark #yycevents #yycarts #supportlocal #art #communitywellbeing #connection

What does wellness mean to you in September 2025? We operate in wellbeing through playful approaches, creative solutions, and culturally-rich experiences.

How might this relate to your dreams for equitable frameworks in the workplace? Supportive training that gives you an opportunity to practice what you've learned? Or how about arts and culture experiences that facilitate healthy brain development?

We'd love to hear your thoughts!

#changingtimes #thestruggleisreal #mentalhealth #communitywellbeing #whatishealth #wellness #healingjourney

It's a beautiful Sunday here at the 40th Annual Marda Gras. We're here to help you take a break, regulate, and have some fun!

#community #wellbeing #mentalhealth #wellnesslane #yycfestivals #yycmarkets

We're excited to be part of the East Calgary Community Fair again! Join us this afternoon for resources, fun, and community celebration! There will be performances and activities for all ages.

We have something a little different this year. Curious? Come see our booth and discover our playful approach to wellbeing for yourself!

#yycliving #yycevents #Calgary #EastCalgary #yyc #yycfamilies #community #wellbeing

As an artist, you deserve to be heard. How long has it been since you had your experience validated by other artists and creatives?

We'd love to see you at this virtual gathering of the minds (and hearts!) on Sunday, 15 June at 6:30 PM for an hour. It's free to attend. Registration link in bio.

#yycarts #yycartists #artists #creatives #wellbeing #neurodivergent #wellbeing #mentalwellness #mentalhealth

This is a workshop that we've been working on for YEARS. It comes from dozens of conversations, Art for Social Change events, and artist gatherings.

Learn more & register: https://bit.ly/3GSmq4j

Are you overwhelmed when it comes to finances? Stumped when you have to decide how to market your work? Concerned about pricing in our current economic climate?

Take 90 minutes to:
- refresh your best practices and mindset
- be guided in your marketing efforts, and avoid getting lost in social media channels
- tailor a calculator that helps you sort your business

There is $$$ of value in this, and we've priced it at $53/person. Are you a member of EAR or IAACC Arts Hives? We've got discount codes through your membership team! Can't wait to see you for this online development opportunity.

#artist #creative #skillsdevelopment #yyclearning #yycworkshop #yycarts #artistsupportartists

@recoveryalberta @ucalgary and @mentalhealthresearch4kids have teamed up for a powerful Zoom session on Thursday, 8 May at 12 PM.

Register for this event: https://bit.ly/3GTP2tU

Join us for "Building Knowledge and Community for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research" to learn about the research infrastructure Mental Health Research 4 Kids offers and how it can support your work.

Or, you can find out about some of the exciting child and adolescent mental health research studies happening with Mental Health Research 4 Kids!

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthresearch #researchforkids #mentalillness #wellbeing #wellness #community

By understanding the value of art that conveys emotions that we may see as negative, we can provoke a shift in our conscious desire for art experiences that connect us and move us toward a future that celebrates belonging, being human, and our emotional growth.

Read article: https://bit.ly/43PvFfg

#sad #sadart #grief #culture #art #blog #community #wellbeing #emotionalintelligence

It's #RedDressDay, bringing attention to how our Indigenous communities are affected each day by the impact of colonization. "In Canada, more than six in ten (63%) Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime." (Source: https://bit.ly/4binPLG)

Wear a red dress, or Indigenous-crafted talismans to recognize this call to justice. Attend local events in your area to show your support like the @womenscentrecalgary walk or view the displays designed by Livia Manywounds, a Blackfoot designer, artist, and communications specialist from the Tsuut’ina and Siksika Nations at @calgarylibrary.

#communitywellbeing #mentalhealth #indigenousmentalhealth

Our mini-mental wellness festival, Spring Bliss, is an incredible gathering of 40+ organizations, community, and volunteers that celebrates our lived experiences, connection, and compassionate understanding.

Whether you speak the language of #mindfulness, #mentalhealth, #meditation, #mentalillness, #chronicillness, #disability, #neurodivergence, #wellness, or #wellbeing, we hold space for you and your journey to good health.

See you in 2026!

#community #communitywellbeing #yyc #Calgary

Happening this Wednesday! Join us for the @mathisoncentre and @cmhacalgary in-depth conversation about Depression.

Register using this link: https://bit.ly/4m0c0j5

This event is in recognition of #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek and is part of #YYC campaigns for #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth.

This incredible group of professionals will speak from their shared knowledge bases and evidence-backed research journeys to illuminate the lived experiences of those affected by this challenging disorder.

#mentalhealth #Calgary #yyclearning #depression #mentalillness #community #wellbeing

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Through arts and culture projects, we support healthy brain development and promote mental health literacy. We innovate the mental health conversation with evidence-backed processes developed through our research, blend it with art, and then weave it into a narrative for fun and playful learning.

In the spirit of reconciliation and truth, we are grateful to ground our work and learning in Moh’kinsstis (Calgary). We acknowledge the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta, Canada as home of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Districts 5 & 6. Thank you for your ongoing stewardship of this land, for helping us to witness the trauma of your experience, and for sharing the wisdom of the Medicine Wheel with us.

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