Wells Fargo Advisors to Sponsor Films With Impact at Hillsboro High School

Art With Impact's innovative early intervention mental health program will be available to students at Hillsboro High School in Missouri, using hands-on filmmaking to help students explore issues related to mental health.

Art With Impact, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization will offer its high school-based, Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) program Films With Impact at Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, MO (Jefferson County) during the week of November 30th thanks to a generous grant from Wells Fargo Advisors, the St. Louis-based investment bank.

Films With Impact will be incorporated into two Hillsboro’s classes, Radio, TV and Drama and Computer Graphics. Over the four days of instruction, 138 students will have an introduction to mental health concepts, learn about filmmaking, create their own one-minute films on a topic related to mental health, have their own private Film Festival to watch the films and be connected with local resources in their own community to encourage early intervention for issues related to their mental wellness. 

Wells Fargo Advisors is delighted to pilot this innovative program at Hillsboro High School. With its focus on wellness and creative expression, Films With Impact directly supports our corporate commitment to arts and culture and to the health of our communities.

Vanessa Cooksey, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs at Wells Fargo Advisors

This is the first time Films With Impact will be shared outside of California, where it has been successful in reducing stigma, encouraging early intervention and connecting students with resources. During the 2014-15 academic year 91% of student participants stated that they learned something new about mental illness. More importantly, Films With Impact moved students to action, with over half of the student participants reporting an increased likelihood to ask for help with their own mental health.

Vanessa Cooksey, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs at Wells Fargo Advisors states that “Wells Fargo Advisors is delighted to pilot this innovative program at Hillsboro High School. With its focus on wellness and creative expression, Films With Impact directly supports our corporate commitment to arts and culture and to the health of our communities."

As with all diseases, mental health outcomes are dramatically improved when treated early. Art With Impact is committed to using the power of film to communicate and create empathy to ensure that students have access to mental health resources when a mental health issue arises. 

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