Welcome to Mental Health & Wellness, the fourth Girls Write Now Collaboratory Toolkit course in the Orientation Journey! We’re so glad you’re here.
The GWN Collaboratory Toolkit courses are designed for program participants to be provided with the resources and tools needed to begin and maintain your pair relationship, participate in the Collaboratory, and be a well-connected member of the GWN Community.
This course is designed to equip mentors and mentees with essential tools for fostering a supportive and balanced mentoring relationship. Participants will learn effective wellness practices, explore strategies for maintaining mental health and resilience throughout their mentoring journey, and gain insights into teen and young adult wellness resources.
Specific topics range from Wellness in the Mentoring Relationship, Teen & Young Adult Wellness Resources, Wellness Practices, and more.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the Dynamics of Wellness in Mentoring Relationships: Identify and describe the key elements that contribute to a healthy and supportive mentoring relationship, including communication, boundaries, and mutual respect.
- Implement Wellness Practices in Daily Interactions: Develop and apply practical wellness practices and techniques to enhance personal well-being and the well-being of your mentee, including mindfulness, stress management, and self-care strategies.
- Utilize Teen & Young Adult Wellness Resources: Explore and effectively use various resources and tools available for supporting the mental health and wellness of teens and young adults, including counseling services, online platforms, and community programs.
- Reflect on Personal Growth and Impact: Evaluate your own growth and effectiveness as a mentor or mentee by reflecting on the integration of wellness practices, assessing the impact on your mentoring relationship, and identifying areas for continued improvement.
Requirements
Coursework
A list of asynchronous coursework can be found in the curriculum tab. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press COMPLETE before moving on to the next.
Mentorship
You are in one of the following pair types. Your pair type is listed on your GWN Portal profile.
- Type 1: Mentor/Mentee: Meet 2-3 times per month and, as a pair, attend one of the engagement events listed below at least once per month.
- Type 2 : Peer-to-Peer: Meet 2 times per month and, as a pair, attend one of the engagement events listed below at least once per month.
Engagement Types
There are no required events for this course, but we encourage you to check the Events Page in your portal for information on upcoming live events.
Submissions
There are no required submissions for this course.
Asynchronous Coursework
As part of the Orientation Journey, there are four asynchronous GWN Collaboratory Toolkit courses to introduce you to the GWN Collaboratory, provide you with mentoring tips and practices, develop your DEIB competencies, and promote mental health/wellness awareness. The courses are recommended to be taken in the following order:
- GWN Toolkit 1: Collaboratory Overview
- GWN Toolkit 2: Mentoring Best Practices
- GWN Toolkit 3: DEIB: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
- GWN Toolkit 4: Mental Health & Wellness
Engagement Dates
While there are no required engagement events, we do have opportunities for mentees to engage in a Mental Health & Wellness oriented studio.
Below are two Expressive Arts Therapy Studios in which mentees can further explore and apply Mental Health & Wellness Toolkit concepts:
- Therapeutic Writing Group: In this wellness group studio, a mental health professional introduces mentee participants to therapeutic writing as a tool to process challenging personal events and feelings, shift perspectives, and counter negative thoughts, stress, and anxiety. Participants also examine and reframe their own personal narratives under the care and guidance of a professional therapist.
- This group requires a 3-5 session commitment.
- Therapeutic Visual Arts Group: In this wellness group studio, a mental health professional introduces therapeutic art-making practices to mentees as a tool to process challenging personal events and feelings, shift perspectives, and counter negative thoughts, stress, and anxiety. Mentees also examine and reframe their own personal narratives under the care and guidance of a professional therapist.
- This group requires a 3-5 session commitment.
Submissions
There are no required submissions for this course.
