Write for Mental Wellness

Write for Mental Wellness began in early 2022 with the goal of using writing to learn more about our emotions. It’s normal to experience tough emotions, and everyone can benefit from writing about distressing and joyful experiences. Click here to learn more about Write for Mental Wellness.

Here’s three main ways we hope to engage with you: 

Workshops

Our workshops invite you to explore topics like meditation and journaling, self-care and autobiography, poetry and reflection, and more!

Check out some of our workshops:

• Introduction to YpsiWrites: Write for Wellness

• With Open Hearts and Minds: Meditation and Journaling

• A Story Worth Writing: Self-Care and Autobiography

• Exploring the Poetry of Muriel Rukyeser and Asking, “Am I Using All My Fears?”

• Dear Feelings: Letters and Emotion

• Mindful Writing: Journaling and Self-care

WORKSHEETS

Our worksheets offer you the chance to reflect on topics like gratitude, pride, self-compassion, and more. Be on the lookout for worksheets next time you're in Downtown or Depot Town!

Explore some of our worksheets:

• Traditions

• Mistakes

• Stress

• Emotions

• Humor

• Empathy

• Safety

• Vulnerability

• Gratitude 

• Love and Relationships

• Pride Month

• Self-reflection

• Self-compassion

• Trust

• Fear

• Acceptance

• Hope

• Sadness

• Joy

• Self-Confidence

• Grief

• Values

• Self-management

• Boundaries

• Stigmas

• Mini-exercise: Similes and Emotions

• Validation

• Generosity

• Social Change

• Consent

Write for Wellness: Types of Wellness

There's many different aspects of your life that contribute to your wellness! These worksheets were intended for use in college and high school classrooms, but can be used by anyone. Each worksheet focuses on a different type of wellness important for taking care of the whole self! If you'd like all of the worksheets in one document, you can access that here: Write for Wellness: Types of Wellness. The worksheets are meant to be completed in the order they're presented in below:

1. Self-care

2. Mindfulness

3. Nutrition

4. Movement

5. Sleep

6. Reflection

Have fun with these as you gently reflect on different aspects of wellness!

WRITING PROMPTS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Our social media prompts encourage you to share short writing online to help everyone remember that it’s healthy to talk about your emotions!

SELF-CARE SCRIBE SESSIONS

During the fall and winter semesters, Write for Wellness partners with EMU's Rec/IM to host Self-care Scribe Sessions. These hour-long sessions invite students to take part in a mindfulness activity before writing on a wellness topic: stress, coping with mistakes, acceptance, and more! Each session, there’s time to share insights or questions (though sharing is not required). Join us this fall or winter semester?

Ways to Get Involved

Write for Mental Wellness is led by a social worker and writer who holds an MSW in Clinical Social Work and MA in Creative Writing. The Write for Mental Wellness volunteer team meets biweekly to collaborate on new content, and we’d love for you to join us! If you are interested in getting involved with the volunteer team, reach out to ypsiwrites@gmail.com. (If you are a high school or college student and interested in this work, please also reach out to us for information on joining our Student Advisory Committee!)

Partners and Support

The partners of Write for Mental Wellness include Washtenaw County Health Department's Wish You Knew Mental Health Campaign, EMU Women in Philanthropy, the EMU Faculty Development Center, Blue Sky Tennis, Girls Group, the EMU Recreation/Intramural Sports Department, and Tecumseh District Library.

In the Media

Here’s what people are saying about us:

• The Mental Health Agenda - Episode 4

• Ypsi-based mental health writing workshops encourage healthy coping and community dialogue

• #OTGYpsi: Ypsilanti offers writing workshops as a path to mental wellness

• New self-care writing workshop at Eastern Michigan University