The Urban Mental Health Movement™
-not just an event but a life changing experience

 The Urban Mental Health Movement was founded in 2006 by Christian F. Johnson with the purpose to use entertainment and expressive arts as a catalyst and positive medium to engage, educate and promote healing and awareness while decreasing alienation and stigmatization about mental illness among the urban community.

Realizing the stigma and isolation attached to mental health illness in ethnic and urban communities, Christian F. Johnson decided to take an innovative and proactive approach in educating individuals, families and communities on the importance of the awareness, acceptance and treatment of mental health and social issues.  Therefore, the Urban Mental Health Movement uses realistic, culturally sensitive and dialogue provoking programs and services to reach and empower urban communities.

Our Purpose

We strive to increase awareness, knowledge and acceptance of mental illness and mental health related social issues in urban communities.

We strive to bridge traditional and nontraditional healing approaches by combining expressive arts and dialogue to promote healing, acceptance and understanding among professionals, individuals living with mental illness and their families and communities.

We strive to promote life fulfillment and emotional well-being by being innovative advocates in our schools, communities, churches and businesses.

We strive to form collaborations and partnerships with traditional and nontraditional organizations that support the mission of positive social change, wellness and individual and community empowerment/activism.

We strive to create client centered and solution focused programming that meets the needs of the urban community by incorporating their music and culture.

Programs and Services

School Based Emotional Wellness Program®- this program provides direct access to affordable mental health and wellness services to students and their families.

The program will partner with community schools to establish an onsite low fee counseling clinic that will serve the mental health and emotional needs of their students and families.  WCWA will staff a licensed child & adult therapist on the school campus 3 -5 days a week and provide individual, family and group counseling services.

Presentations and Workshops-these services are customized per age group, organization and group.  These services address mental health and social issues focusing on education, advocacy and social change and acceptance.  Workshops incorporate the use of edutainment and utilize expressive arts as a platform to communicate and educate. Presentations include; keynote speaking, plenary speakers, panel discussions, community forums/ dialogues, customized workshops and education based presentations.

Poetry Therapy Program-this program is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional trained effectively in how to use spoken word and poetry to help individuals tell their story, gain self-awareness for healing and personal growth.  All poetry therapists will utilize the goals and guidelines of poetry therapy recommended by the International Poetry Therapy Association.

Reclaiming Ourselves: Redefining Our Words and Actions®- a series of performance productions that include music, dance, spoken word and poetry to address mental illness and contemporary social issues.  The mission of these productions are to challenge the traditional roles, generalizations and negative messages that we use in society to communicate and relate to each other about various issues.  The goal of Reclaiming Ourselves: Redefining Our Words and Actions®, is audience participants will walk away asking themselves three important questions.   How do I relate to myself?  How do I relate to others? How can I reshape my perspectives to encourage universal acceptance of difference?

Trainings and Consultations- designed for agencies, businesses, community and health organizations, schools, groups/clubs and faith based & non-profit organizations.  These trainings incorporate the goals of the Urban Mental Health Movement™ including but not limited to, cultural acceptance, diversity, communication and unity building. A consultant will meet with the organization being served and assess the agency for its specific needs and goals.

If you are interested in learning more about the programs and services offered through the Urban Mental Health Movement, please contact us at urbanmentalhealthmovement@wcwallc.com.