Free Mental Health Education in Illinois Schools
Impactful Fund presents The Creative Coping Toolkit: a film and evidence-based mental health education program providing practical tools to educators, youth, and families to address behavioral health and school safety in a fresh and effective way.
iMPACTFUL's Creative Coping Toolkit (CCT) has sparked essential connections and positive change worldwide, impacting society's perception of mental health by addressing the brain science and offering easy-to-implement, practical, and safe tools.
Join us to support this mission to continue making mental health education a priority for ALL Illinois schools including higher education.
How can we tell if our anxious feelings are just strong emotions or a sign of an anxiety disorder?
WATCH CLIP
The Challenge
Illinois is facing a youth mental health crisis:
- 1 in 5 youth experience a mental health disorder annually. (NAMI)
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 15-24. (NIMH)
- Chronic absenteeism affects nearly 45% of students in Chicago Public Schools, a sign of emotional and mental health struggles.
- Illinois ranks 38th in the U.S. for mental health workforce availability, with a severe shortage, especially in rural areas. (HRSA)
The pandemic accelerated anxiety, depression, and social isolation among youth, while schools struggle to provide adequate support. Without proper resources, absenteeism will rise, academic performance will fall, and Illinois' future workforce will suffer.
Our Contribution to the Solution
The Creative Coping Toolkit (CCT) is an award-winning film and evidence-based mental health literacy program. It effectively and safely helps to break the stigma around mental health by sharing personal stories of youth and families alongside educators, mental health professionals, pediatricians, and the brain science behind it all. The program addresses anxiety, online safety, loneliness, is, how to identify it, and offers ways to safely support oneself and others to reach out for help. When people watch movies, they relate and see themselves in the stories.
Most importantly, we learn that we are not alone and that we can address mental health and get help. It doesn't have to be scary.
Mental Health Matters in Illinois
Impactful Fund is providing free access to the Angst Creative Coping Toolkit for every K-12 public, charter, remote, special needs, private and parochial school and community college in the state of Illinois. Serving 2M+ students, educators, and their families. See the survey results NPS 85.
Program
Program Portal Includes:
- Angst Core film (43 mins)
- Film Chapters (3-8 mins)
- Learning Bursts (2-12 mins)
- SEL Activities (Digital & Downloadable)
- Engagement & Impact Reporting Tool
- Engagement Support
- Marketing and communication assets
- Films subtitled in multiple languages
- Survey
What Schools Are Saying
The CCT provides Tier 1 & Tier II Mental Health Support. Read the CCT program case study here
This program has been implemented in schools and districts throughout the country and is accessible by all K-12 public schools and community colleges in the state of California for 4 years.
"The films were a powerful tool to help open up conversations about anxiety, digital citizenship, bullying, and belonging. The accompanying tools and resources made it easier to support our educators and keep the conversation going for students and their families."
- Dr Lea Anne Frost, Former President of IAASE
Former Director of Park Ridge-Niles Community Consolidated School District 64
For more testimonials on ANGST - watch here.
Objectives
- Provide free year-long access for all K-12 Illinois schools and community colleges to the tools in the CCT throughout the school year starting ending June 2026.
- Ensure educators, staff, students, and their families can easily access 24/7.
- The IAASE, IASB and NAMI have joined us in spreading the word.
- Coordinate with relevant organizations and stakeholders to maximize the campaign's reach and impact.
- Advisory Council: Scilla Andreen, Ronald Burton, Bob Oros, Susana V Spillman
Timeline - Yes, We Can Do This!
Sadly, we continue to witness a disturbing and steady increase in anxiety, online bullying, and suicide. It’s heartbreaking.
We are raising $1.2M - only $0. to 36 per student, and that includes their family. That's $1200 per school district. Here's our step-by-step timeline that spells out Fundraising, Press Strategy, Marketing, Promotion, Free Viewing Implementation, Evaluation, and Follow-Up.
Year-Long Access to our Engagement Team
Getting access to The Creative Coping Toolkit is just the first step. Schools also get to tap into our tech, marketing, and Engagement Team to brainstorm how the CCT will work best within their school community.
Sponsorship - Join the Movement to Keep it Free!
Join the movement and make a difference! You can access the program for free and if you wish to donate we appreciate the support to provide The Creative Coping Toolkit to every K-12 public, charter, and parochial school in Illinois for the school year. Our goal is to raise $1.2m. You don't have to donate to gain access to the toolkit.
Sponsorship participation will be reserved for Illinois Statewide Schools. Donations can be made directly to Impactful Fund 501(c)3. For anyone interested in learning more about how to make the Creative Coping Toolkit: available to all schools throughout the year please contact us.
Impactful Fund - 4111 E Madison St. Suite 310, Seattle, WA 98112
EIN: 45-2562072