As we've highlighted above, Notes4Recovery is an initiative that focuses on the intersection between music and mental health. Each May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, our team will partner with a local campus and plan an awareness event for both students and faculty. After much research, the one "educational entity" that stood out as a partner in these efforts was Indieflix Education — an organization whose documentaries have received numerous accolades from students, parents, and educators.

Indieflix Education makes and distributes social impact films that address common individual and societal issues, from anxiety to social media addiction, cyber-bullying and sexual harassment.

These films cover difficult topics, but always include empowering strategies and practical tips on how to move forward. Screenings are shown in actual and virtual community environments, with moderated discussion and Q&A, so that reflection and learning can be grounded after each screening. (One such documentary is Angst. Through candid interviews, the power of film is used to tell the stories of teens who discuss their anxiety and its impact on their lives and relationships, as well as how they identify solutions and hope. This powerful documentary also provides discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, along with useful tools available for the student community).

During the programming mentioned above — or anytime students are feeling overwhelmed — it is important to have resources available to share when requested. Please see below for our recommendations.

For our peers that aren't yet ready to speak with a friend, loved one, or professional - there are two wonderful non-profit organizations to share which are leading crisis intervention entities with services available 24/7. Or, one can reach out to the Cape & Islands Family Support Network and receive a one-hour consultation at no cost. Prior to the end of the call, community members will receive a list of vetted treatment options based on their own (or a loved one’s) medical and psychological concerns.

Their mission is to guide students with mental health issues through all stages of the recovery process. Another focus is to provide networking and training opportunities for those supporting this clinical population throughout the Cape and Islands region - an area with almost twice the suicide rate as other parts of Massachusetts. This program will take the time to listen to a student’s concerns and recommend providers who can offer guidance in prioritizing next steps in this process. They can also help identify evidence-based treatment resources, and if needed, provide referrals for family therapy services. Through ongoing newsletters, this network will offer subscribers an overview of recent programming initiatives, upcoming events, and a highlight of local organizations providing services on behalf of students in crisis.