Amanda Lipp

Amanda spent three months in a psychiatric hospital during college, hearing patients’ stories of struggle and triumph - including her own. She learned from the inside-out how the system works, and the role of empathy and peers in healing. She shares how hitting rock bottom showed her a way out, and motivated her to finally face her issues. While in the hospital, a thoughtful nurse handed Amanda a box of crayons. This simple gesture became a pivotal moment in Amanda’s healing and identity, and was ultimately the first step in her becoming a young leader and filmmaker in mental health care. Amanda shares how 'the little things' can make all the difference, and the power of storytelling in self-empowerment and systems-change. In this presentation, Amanda weaves in her own personal story, creative exercises using crayons, wellness tips, and short films she's produced featuring people's mental health stories.

"I believe we're always healing from something, and fostering our wellness is a constant practice" - AL

Learning points:

• Crafting our mental health narratives
• Translating shame and self-stigma into growth and opportunity
• Challenging traditional systems of care
• Paying-it-forward