This webinar is part of the NYSPHA Mental Health Webinar Series sponsored by The JED Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Capital Region Chapter, and the University of Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences.

Join author-illustrator and educator Cara Bean for a presentation on how doodling notes about mental health sparked a five-year creative journey leading to the creation of Here I Am; I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health, her debut graphic novel for young readers. This session invites attendees to explore how drawing can be a powerful tool to relax and focus the brain, offering a calming and creative way to manage stress. They will also discover how comics can serve as an effective medium for processing complex mental health topics, making difficult conversations more accessible and relatable.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand how drawing can be used to relax and focus the brain.
• Learn how comics are a great way to process complex mental health topics.
• Explores visual metaphors to express how we feel inside.