Do-It-Yourself Workshop Resources
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Our website scavenger hunt is designed to help students discover the services and resources we offer, and how to get help when it's needed most. This activity can be completed on paper or digitally, making it easy to complete as an in-class or organization meeting activity, homework assignment, or for extra credit. By the end of the scavenger hunt, students will be experts on where to find us and how to make the most of our resources.
Mental Health Group Activity Guides
Are you on the lookout for an engaging and enjoyable approach to enhance wellness and foster positive mental health within your community? Dive into our selection of guides and take the lead in organizing a meeting centered on mental well-being. Whether you’re a part of Greek life, a student leader, a club president, or a Resident Assistant, these resources are designed to empower you to conduct your own enriching programs.
Introducing Dam Good Growth (DGG) and Mental Health in Minutes (MHiM) — programs that offer a suite of guided activities that promote self-care and personal development. Engage with topics in positive psychology, self-care, personal growth, and relationship building through interactive group activities. Dam Good Growth and Mental Health in Minutes are based on the PERMA Theory of Well-being, which was created to help people flourish in their lives.
Dam Good Growth
DGG comes in two parts: the facilitation guide and bulletin board materials. You may use one or both based on your needs.
The facilitation guide provides everything you need to lead the activity, including a script, key psychoeducational topics, interactive group activities, and reflection questions.
The bulletin board materials offer a range of educational and interactive posters for display in departments, residence halls, and other spaces. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with the facilitation guide.
Mental Health in Minutes
Mental Health in Minutes offers quick activities and discussion prompts designed to be completed in about 10 minutes. Perfect for starting a class, breaking the ice at meetings, or as part of a larger event, these guides include educational content, activities, discussion/reflection, and resources—all formatted like a script.
Access the materials in the each of the PERMA menu tabs below.
DGG & MiHM Facilitation Materials
Each letter from the PERMA model stands for one aspect of well-being. You may access DGG and MiHM materials for each topic by selecting each of letter in the menu below.
P
In the PERMA model, “P” stands for positive emotions. Increasing the amount of positive emotions you feel can be a key to improving your well-being. It’s important to recognize that positive emotions can be directed towards any time in your life: the past, present, and future. We can fondly remember the past, actively look for positives in the present, and have optimism for the future.
Positive emotions aren’t limited to just happiness, either - tranquility, excitement, thankfulness, and joy are all examples of positive emotions. These emotions help us to build resilience and work towards mental well-being.
Dam Good Growth Guides
Gratitude: This facilitation guide focuses on cultivating positive emotions through expressions of gratitude. If you are interested in this guide for your group, fill out a request form to get your materials.
Mental Health in Minutes coming soon!
E
In the PERMA model, “E” stands for engagement. The definition of engagement is actually up to you - your interests, hobbies, and enjoyed activities create engagement in your life. Gardening, reading, biking, good conversations, and music are all great examples. Why is engagement essential to our well-being, though? When we regularly absorb ourselves in activities that we find enjoyable, we are able to experience flow. Flow is a gratifying feeling that arises when we are fully engaged in the present activity. Flow and engagement allow us to appreciate our lives in the moment and create good experiences through the things we do.
Mental Health in Minutes Guide
Character Strengths: Uncover your own character strengths and learn how to apply them in your life. If you are interested in this guide for your group, fill out a request form to get your materials.
Dam Good Growth Guide
Trying New Things: This guide focuses on techniques to increase our engagement on the path to wellbeing. Learn more about how you can conquer your fears and find new hobbies by filling out a request form.
R
In the PERMA model, “R” stands for [positive] relationships. Interestingly enough, our individual well-being can be greatly influenced by our connections with other people. When we have positive relationships with others, we feel a sense of closeness and belonging. We feel supported and we support in return. Having meaningful connections with those around you has the potential to cultivate positive emotions, strengthen your immune system, lessen anxiety, and create higher levels of empathy and self-esteem.
Examples of positive relationships are individual and varied, such as: your significant other, your mother, the study group you meet with on Tuesdays, or the friend that you can call when you need to vent. Connection is not a one-size-fits-all deal, but finding those relationships that are meaningful and supportive for you personally can be life changing.
Mental Health in Minutes Guide
Belonging: Explore why having a sense of belonging is so important and how we can cultivate this sense further. If you are interested in this guide for your group, fill out a request form to get your materials.
Dam Good Growth Guide
Social Connection: This facilitation Guide covers how positive relationships can improve our wellbeing. This guide is perfect both for groups who know each other well and groups who have never met, so fill out a request form to get yours today.
Friendships: This guide discusses friendships, their impact on our well-being, and provides instructions for a speed friending activity. Fill out a request form to get yours today.
M
In the PERMA model, “M” stands for meaning. Humans are unique creatures in this way - we tend to search for meaning in our lives. Our overall mental well-being comes partially from our sense of purpose, belonging, and involvement in something “bigger.” We can derive this meaning from community, religion, social justice, family, friends, and so many more areas of our lives. Our sources of meaning are not stagnant, and as we grow, where we feel a sense of purpose can change with us. Don’t be afraid if your meaning in life evolves over time, and don’t be afraid if you find yourself searching.
Dam Good Growth Guides
Awe: This facilitation guide teaches skills to find beauty in everyday life. Cultivating meaning through awe is important to maintain our well-being, so fill out a request form to get your materials today.
Mental Health in Minutes coming soon!
A
In the PERMA model, “A” stands for accomplishment. When we accomplish something, we tend to feel proud of ourselves, confident in our abilities, and a sense of achievement. These feelings can contribute positively to our overall well-being. Accomplishment can come from many areas of our lives: sports, work, hobbies, growth, etc. One effective way to regularly experience accomplishment in our lives is to set goals. Goals allow us to create specific plans to achieve things we think are important - for example, “I want to read 10 pages of a good book every day for a month.” By setting and achieving realistic goals for ourselves, we can boost our self-confidence and well-being.
Mental Health in Minutes Guide
Habits: Learn how to create and stick to habits that enhance your well-being. If you are interested in this guide for your group, fill out a request form to get your materials.
Dam Good Growth Guides
Values and Goal Setting: This guide can help you understand not only what's meaningful to you, but how to work these things into your daily life. Request the guide to explore the materials and learn more about setting goals.