Voices With Impact Mental Health Film Festival - Active Listeners Needed

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Project Context

Voices With Impact is looking for volunteers to help run its first ever San Francisco film premiere. Voices With Impact is a film production grant and festival that elevates underrepresented mental health narratives. The Premiere will showcase 10 short films from across the world with the filmmakers joining the audience for a panel in person. The grant program funds ten filmmakers annually to create influential short films on various mental health topics. California's Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission is the anchor funder. Films premiere at a festival in June of each year, creating space for dialogue that fosters a deep inquiry into mental health issues. This year our San Francisco Premiere takes place at the SF LGBT Center.

Organizational Context

Voices with Impact is a project of Art With Impact.

Art With Impact is a nonprofit organization that leverages short films to redefine how young people perceive, discuss, and prioritize their mental health. Our mission is to promote mental wellness by creating space for young people to learn and connect through art and media.

A Note On Suitability

For each volunteer an 1 hour online meeting will take place to access suitability and fit for the role.

Role Description

We’re looking for 4 Active Listeners who are Mental Health First Aid Trained or are willing to do training for the role. This is a good opportunity for students studying psychology and those thinking about a career in the mental health field. People with experience supporting those with their mental health in the past would be ideal for this role.

The role is precautionary, our events are not particularly triggering, and the films we screen are made in conjunction with mental health advice. However, we can never predict when something is going to come up for someone, and sometimes people just need someone to listen and point them in the right direction.

Active Listeners will be certified Mental Health First Aid Trained individuals who will be on hand during the event to provide active listening and signposting to audience members in need of support. You will be identified by the event hosts so that people in need of someone to speak to will know who to approach. The event will also have a mental health professional on hand too, for you to connect people with if needed - they are also there to support you. You will be given a resource pack to share with people.

Personal requirements

As a person you will need to be a good listener, have great communication skills and be empathetic. We will need all active listeners to be Mental Health First Aid Trained. If you have other relevant mental health support experience, let us know. If you aren’t Mental Health First Aid Trained but are still interested, get in contact, we may be able to provide you with the correct training.

Commitments

2 hours of online orientation and training. 5 hours on June 6 for orientation on the day and the duration of the event. An additional full day training for Mental Health First Aid Training if applicable.

Benefits

You will get a pass to watch the films from the festival through the whole of June so if you miss some during the event you can watch them back. You also can request 2 tickets for family and friends for the screening you are volunteering at. You’ll get some festival goodies and VWI merch. We are also happy to provide a professional reference on completion of the role.