Mental Health Literacy Initiatives - the 5 Ws

Who: Walt's Waltz was founded to end stigma, reduce suffering, and empower individuals with mental health conditions, with the hope of saving lives through education and advocacy.

What: We offer interactive presentations and professionally led programs designed to dispel myths, biases, and assumptions about mental health. Our curriculum is tailored to diverse audiences, including business professionals, nonprofit staff, faculty, students, community members, and seniors. We integrate visual and performing arts into our programs to enhance engagement and understanding. Each session encourages active participation, fostering an environment of support and open dialogue. Some programs are available both in person and virtually, while others are exclusively offered in person, allowing for flexibility based on your organization’s needs. Additionally, certain programs are prearranged and occur on a monthly basis—check out our events page for information on upcoming programs.

When: Most of our programs can be scheduled at your organization’s convenience, whether for a specific event or as part of an ongoing series. We encourage continual dialogue around mental health education and its importance in our daily lives.

Where: Presentations can be held at your organization’s location, at conferences, community centers, or through virtual platforms to accommodate various settings and audiences.

Why: Mental health literacy is essential for reducing suffering, ending stigma, and empowering individuals. Many people receive education on physical health but lack comprehensive knowledge about mental health. By advocating for a national mental health curriculum, Walt's Waltz aims to normalize discussions around mental health and foster understanding within our communities. Our three-step approach focuses on Education, Equity, and creating Stigma-Free environments, reinforcing our commitment to these core principles. Let’s stop dancing around mental health conversations and start promoting open dialogue.

For more information or to schedule a session, please contact us at susan@waltswaltz.com or call (864) 477- 8660. We invite you to explore our events page for details on upcoming programs.

Walt’s Waltz Workshops and Presentations

Contact us to discuss our various Mental Health Literacy Programs. Presentations and workshops are tailored to your needs and can include arts integration into one or more of the following topics:

  • Mental Health Awareness

  • HSP - the Highly Sensitive Person

  • Self-Care and Wellness Strategies

  • Mental Health Moonshot - Genetics, Epigenetics, and Precision Medicine

  • Suicide Awareness 

  • Daily Breadth - Living with Loss

  • Stigma within Cultures

Interested in a different approach? Check out our Painting Mental Health Workshop.

Compass & a Megaphone for Mental Health Support, Education, & Change

We advocate, arrange, and present educational programs most are free to the public.

Mental Health Literacy

Mental Health Instruction

Program Description: Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis and Eliminating Mental Illness Stigma for a GenerationMental Health education works. Studies show that including a well-developed and implemented Mental Health curriculum in educational programming leads to decreased stigma and a stronger mental health knowledge base. In turn, this leads to robust peer support among youth, decreased delays to care, improved student productivity, and more effective interventions for students at risk of suicide (Kutcher et al, 2016).

Mental Health Literacy

Mental Health Literacy curriculums are avaialbe and are easy to implement. These are available Free of Charge, but you must give them credit for their use. This curriculum was developed in Alberta, Canada. This is an amazing resourse. Checi out thei toolbox with a variety of mental health resources on a range of topics: Toolbox

Walt’s Waltz is a Supporting Sponsor of PsychU. Contact susan@waltswaltz.com to arrange one of their FREE, Virtual Webinars. Please note there is a lead time up to 8 weeks. PsychU is able to present in person in select areas of the Upstate.

Mental Health First Aid Certification Advoacte

Walt’s Waltz is proud to arrange Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification presented by Robyn Ellison, an expert in the field of Mental Health with over 25 years of experience. This is an interactive course, so please bring your questions. This course includes an MHFA Manual and 3-year Certification from MHFA. Additionally, professionals in any filed can earn 7.5 hours of professional development/CEUs, etc. for course completion. This course is free for those in the Upstate and Midland of SC thanks to, Robyn Ellision, Prisma Health and their SAMHSA Grant. We arrange Adult Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health First Aid for Youth Certification.
Topics covered in this courses are listed below:
* Depression and mood disorders
* Anxiety disorders
* Trauma
* Psychosis
* Substance Use disorders
Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

Walt’s Waltz is a Supporting Partner of PsychU. Check out their free programs!

  • Mental Health Awareness Mini Deck & Stigma in Mental Health

  • Patient Empowerment to Improve Quality of Patient Care    Mental Health Awareness: A Focus on Suicide & Stigma

  • Humanizing Bipolar Disorder (with patient videos)

  • Digital Technology Tools for Mental Health

  • Mindfulness Meditation (can include a 12-minute mindfulness practice)

  • Suicide Awareness (highly suggested)

  • Wellness: Non-pharmacological Approaches in Mental Health

  • The Effect of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Children

    Contact us to set-up a course for your organization!

PsychU Resource Links

Coursera - Free Online Courses

We are grateful for our partnerships which enable us to offer these important trainings to our community.