The Creative Coping Toolkit (CCT) is an online film-based learning platform built around iNDIEFLIX’s original mental health film collection and designed to support social-emotional well-being, as well as the development of life skills like empathy and thoughtfulness.

Depending on the licensing agreement your school has with us, you may have access to the CCT for one (1) to four (4) film programs in our mental health collection. 

This program was created with communities and students in mind and can be used in a variety of ways both in the classroom as well as in informal educational settings like library events, family workshops, after-school programs, community events, or professional development sessions. 

Through the CCT, you can explore topics addressed in our film(s) with your class through guided discussion, self-reflection prompts, and social-emotional learning (SEL) activities. Students can reflect on what they have seen and think about connections to their own lives. Also, they will learn more about the experiences of others, including their peers and classmates. 

You can use the CCT to:

• Facilitate engaged learning and classroom discussions around mental health to promote life skill development, social-emotional learning, and student well-being.
• Guide a film-based lesson related to mental health, adding an interactive activity for an extended classroom lesson.
• Assign students immersive activities for bell work or homework to deepen understanding and reflection. 

• The activities and discussion guides in the toolkit are designed to be flexible and can be adjusted according to your curriculum, available time, and unique student experiences.
• Reference our Sample Lesson Guide (via: Welcome Guide) for inspiration on how to integrate multiple tools in the CCT together within a classroom session. 
• Student activities can be assigned as standalone exercises or integrated into a longer lesson plan. They can be printed for students to hand write answers or downloaded to save their reflections digitally; each exercise can also be accessed, printed or saved individually.
• As a guide, the activities can be completed in 5 to 20 minutes, depending on how much time you allow participants to reflect. They make a great warm-up exercise or bell work, or can be assigned as extended learning as homework.
• If you assign activities for homework, we recommend that you suggest your students involve their family members - this way they can become “SEL Champions” at home! 
• The chapter-by-chapter discussion guides are designed to facilitate longer and more in-depth reflection and learning for group-focused sessions - great for the classroom setting.
• It is recommended that at least 15 to 20 minutes are allocated for viewing a chapter video clip and using the included guide for student self-reflection and then group discussion. We encourage allocating more time to longer chapters to provide more reflection!

Angst is a documentary designed to normalize and raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps.

Our specific goals are to help people identify and understand the symptoms of anxiety, give them tools to manage it, and encourage them to reach out for help when they need it.

By teaching Angst in the classroom, you will enable students to:

• Identify and understand terms, definitions, signs, and symptoms of anxiety after watching the Angst film.
• Remember, vocalize and practice positive solutions to negative thoughts, negative self-talk, and worry.
• Feel encouraged to push aside subconscious perceptions of the stigma of mental health, so students can reach out for help, or to those around them who are struggling. 
• Understand the relationship between brain science and anxiety.
• Use stress-management strategies to better help themselves and others with anxiety, including mindfulness, breathing, gratitude, empathy and basic exposure therapy.

Jerry Bubrick, PhD, is the senior director of the Anxiety Disorders Center and director of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Service at the Child Mind Institute. He is a cognitive and behavioral psychologist who specializes in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Widely recognized for developing one of the world’s most intensive pediatric programs for OCD, he is a pioneer in using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat children and teens with OCD and related anxiety disorders.

Dr. Cora Collette Breuner, MD, MPH, is a member of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She is a Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Laura Kastner, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Psychology from University of Virginia. Currently a clinical professor in the department of psychology and the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at U.W., Dr. Kastner has also taught in pediatrics, adolescent medicine, and the medical school. 

Jenny Howe, MS is a licensed therapist with degrees in Psychology and Child & Family Studies. For the last 20 years, she’s worked extensively with youth and adolescents in both the criminal justice and public school systems. In addition to working for the Utah State Division of Youth Corrections, she served as an elementary school counselor and program coordinator for Utah school districts.