Our Research
Improving our methodologies to communicate research about mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness will give the general public a better chance of creating their own informed opinions that can effectively meet the needs of civic rights and responsibility.
The festival and event projects, as well as the mandate for the Foundation, are based on research and narratives, proven through years of study and practice. Through our partnerships for learning and development we are able to consistently improve our access to, and understanding of, the science around mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) conceptualizes mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.” (source)
“Without a more collective, contextual, and holistic perspective on health, it is difficult to advance health equity.” (Mindset Shifts: What Are They? Why Do They Matter? How Do They Happen? A FrameWorks Strategic Report)
“Mental health-related disabilities (7%) ranked fourth in prevalence among disability types for persons aged 15 years and over, and represented just over 2 million Canadians. In fact, among youth, mental health-related (8%) was the most common type of disability, followed by learning (6%), and pain-related disabilities (4%).” (StatsCan The Daily, Released: 2018-11-28)
“At the collective level, a critical benchmark of the mental heath literacy of Canadian society would be the development and implementation of a multi-faceted national strategy to improve knowledge, understanding and capacity to act to prevent and manage mental disorders. This would include partnership initiatives and programs that engage government and non-governmental organizations, consumers, family members, researchers and others working in the areas of health and mental health.” (Mental Health Literacy in Canada, Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health)
The Brain Story
From the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI), the Brain Story speaks to brain health (including risk for physical and mental illness) and how it is determined by more than just our genes. Through their multitude of resources and the Brain Story Certification Course, learn how early experiences get built into our brains and bodies.
“The Brain Story is a story about how experiences shape our brains. As such, it is also a story about human relationships, because we depend on those around us for the experiences that build our brain architecture.
As a community, when we identify how and when to support children and families in the course of development, we can change how the story unfolds so that all of us, regardless of background and life circumstances, have the chance to lead happier, healthier lives, build stronger communities, and reduce risk for mental health problems, including addiction.”
Click the image to access an introduction to the Brain Story through an accessible and engaging video. The AFWI developed the video with considerable input from their partners at the Harvard Center on the Developing Child and the FrameWorks Institute. Using metaphors developed by FrameWorks and tested with audiences both in the US and in Alberta, “How Brains are Built” infuses core story concepts with energy, accessibility, and high fidelity to the science.
Narrative Development for the Festival Project
Joseph Campbell popularized “the hero’s journey” in The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), in which he described:
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”
Phil Cousineau in the introduction to the revised edition of The Hero's Journey (1990) wrote "the monomyth is in effect a metamyth, a philosophical reading of the unity of mankind's spiritual history, the Story behind the story". This call to adventure and return home, is the narrative backbone for our first interactive engagement project.
The visual tool below was developed from our research and helps to explain how we move through the levels of awareness or engagement, to ensure we work within realistic expectations. A relevant source would be the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), as developed by Milton Bennett.
Research on Designed Environments for Mental Health
We reference a variety of case studies, theories, and research on designed environments to support the design, planning, execution, and monitoring for our Festival Project and events. This research database is accessible through appointment.
We integrate our designs with knowledge bases found in Placemaking principles.
*We’ve included helpful images to show more about the subject matter, however note we’ve linked relevant sites to them, so please click the graphics to learn more.
We integrate our designs with knowledge bases found in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).
*We’ve included helpful images to show more about the subject matter, however note we’ve linked relevant sites to them, so please click the graphics to learn more.
© 2018-2024 Stacey Perlin