Creative Coping Toolkit FAQs

A turnkey, film-powered, evidence-based mental health education program for schools, workplaces, community organizations, government agencies and families.

The Creative Coping Toolkit combines award-winning documentaries, brain science, expert insights and interactive activities to help people understand emotions, practice coping and help-seeking skills, and talk more openly about mental health.

The CCT explores anxiety, digital well-being, bullying, loneliness, resilience, connection and belonging. It is designed for ages 10+, while younger children in grades K–4 can participate through age-appropriate activities led by an educator or caregiver.

Organizations can license individual film programs or bundle all four. Explore our impact and research results. (opens in a new tab)

Because a story gets past the defenses a fact sheet runs into. Hand someone information about depression and they file it; hand them a story and they may recognize themselves, or someone they love.

There is neuroscience behind that. When someone listens to a story, their brain activity begins to mirror the storyteller’s — shared understanding rather than shared information. A film lets a viewer feel what a character feels, so empathy is switched on rather than asked for. And the chemistry involved, dopamine and oxytocin, is the chemistry of memory and trust, which is why a story stays when facts slide off.

It also reaches people earlier. By the time someone calls an employee assistance line, they have usually been struggling for months — the most expensive place to meet a person, and the hardest place to help them. Someone who would never book an appointment will still watch a film with their team.

The film is the opening, not the whole program: the brain science explains what someone is feeling, the activities give them something to practice, and doing it together is what turns insight into a culture rather than a private realization.

The CCT explores anxiety, digital well-being, bullying, loneliness, suicide awareness, identity, belonging, resilience and help-seeking.

Each topic is introduced through human stories and supported by brain science, guided discussions and practical activities. Organizations can choose the film programs and resources that best fit their audience, goals and community.

The CCT is flexible. You can use a short expert answer or activity in a few minutes, explore a chapter module during a class or meeting, or host a film screening followed by guided discussion.

Organizations can use the CCT for a single event, build it into an existing program or offer resources throughout the year. Our Engagement Team can help create a plan that fits your available time and goals.

People love movies. Stories help share information in a way that we remember.

The Creative Coping Toolkit uses film to open the door, then helps people turn what they felt and learned into practical skills.

Four core film programs are paired with more than 300 expert-informed videos, guided discussions, reflection prompts, games, quick quizzes, brain science and interactive activities. Everything lives in an easy-to-navigate online dashboard, allowing schools, workplaces, community organizations and government agencies to host shared screenings, use shorter chapter modules or offer on-demand access.

The CCT is designed to complement existing mental health, wellness, education and support services, not replace them.

The Creative Coping Toolkit is designed for schools, workplaces, community organizations, government agencies and the people and families they serve.

Audience-specific dashboards support educators, students ages 10+, employees, service members, veterans, government employees, parents and caregivers. Younger children in grades K–4 can participate through age-appropriate activities led by an educator or caregiver.

The CCT can be used in classrooms, staff development, parent education, community screenings and group programs, or explored independently at home.

Yes. The CCT can be licensed by government agencies, military communities and organizations serving active-duty service members, the National Guard and Reserve, veterans, DoD civilians and federal employees, and their families.

Films, guided discussions and practical activities can support education and conversation around stress, resilience, connection, belonging and help-seeking. The program can be tailored to complement an organization’s existing wellness and support resources.

It is mental health education, not clinical treatment or crisis care, and it sends people toward the behavioral health, chaplain, family support and VA services already there. Impactful Networks Inc holds CAGE/NCAGE 16ER7. See the Government, Military & Veterans edition.

Yes. Non-profits, faith groups, libraries, youth programs and the groups that gather people locally can license the CCT, and no clinical training is required to lead it.

A 24-hour screening license covers a single event, and it is a popular choice for non-profits and community groups. There is also a one-week or one-month program, and if you want to run it all year, tell us and we will find the right license. See the Organizations & Communities edition.

Stories give people a way into conversations that can otherwise feel hard.

The Creative Coping Toolkit helps individuals better understand emotions, talk more openly about mental health, and practice practical coping and help-seeking skills.

Through film, guided discussions and interactive activities, the CCT creates a shared language around anxiety, digital well-being, bullying, belonging and resilience. It can be used by schools, workplaces, community organizations, government agencies and families to strengthen existing wellness efforts and help people feel more connected and supported.

Films create a shared experience. When people recognize themselves in a story, they may feel less alone and more open to hearing different perspectives.

The Creative Coping Toolkit pairs each film with guided reflection, discussion prompts and practical activities that help people move from watching to talking. In schools, workplaces, agencies and families, these conversations can support empathy, trust, belonging and more thoughtful relationships.

Social connection is also an important part of individual and community health, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Connection (opens in a new tab).

The Creative Coping Toolkit was created by Scilla Andreen, award-winning filmmaker, author, and founder and CEO of Impactful Networks.

Her work began after the loss of a childhood friend and several young people in her community to suicide. Those experiences led her to explore how film could make mental health education more human, accessible and easier to discuss.

The CCT grew through collaboration with experts in behavioral health, neuroscience, medicine and education, along with feedback from students, educators, families and workplaces around the world.

Today, it brings stories, brain science and practical tools together to help people feel seen, supported and connected, from the classroom to the boardroom to the living room.

Meet our partners and collaborators.

The Creative Coping Toolkit combines evidence-informed materials with real-world research and ongoing evaluation.

Its films, expert answers and activities draw from established approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, social-emotional learning, emotional literacy and brain science. School materials are also aligned with ASCA student standards.

Angst has been examined in peer-reviewed research, and the broader Creative Coping Toolkit has been evaluated through multi-year and university-led studies. We also use surveys, participation data and qualitative and quantitative feedback to measure outcomes and guide program updates.

Explore the research, methodology and results. (opens in a new tab)

Thousands across the United States, and many more in the 30+ countries the Creative Coping Toolkit has reached.

Thousands of schools and dozens of companies and government agencies have implemented our program in their communities. We have impacted more than 1 million people.

Yes. Depending on your organization’s license, students, employees, service members and other participants may share access with members of their household.

Family access helps continue important conversations beyond the classroom or workplace. When people learn the same language and practice the same skills, they are better able to support one another at home and in their community.

Your organization will provide instructions for accessing the CCT.

Yes. The CCT explores real experiences involving anxiety, suicide, bullying, loneliness, identity and other sensitive topics. While many people find the stories hopeful and validating, some may bring up strong emotions.

We provide information on what each program covers, and guidance for group leaders, to help organizations choose age-appropriate materials, prepare participants and connect them with existing support resources. Participation should be voluntary, and no one should be pressured to share personal experiences.

The CCT is educational and is not a substitute for therapy, crisis support or professional mental health care.

People in your community never sign in and are never asked for their names. They open your organization’s link, and their progress is saved in the browser on their own device, not in an account. Conversations with GiGi stay in the browser too.

Your organization sees engagement reports with totals only, never one person’s activity. Visits to Get support, Help, Privacy, Terms and Settings are never counted, and neither are links to crisis lines or therapist directories. Anyone can turn counting off in Settings. The reports are for your program managers, who sign in with a link we email them.

Schools see totals for the students, staff and families using the school’s link, never a student’s name: students open the link and have no accounts. The CCT complies with applicable COPPA and FERPA requirements and supports schools and libraries in meeting their CIPA obligations.

Employers see totals, never which employees took part or who opened Get support.

Community organizations see the same totals for everyone using their link, with no names and no accounts.

Government agencies and commands see totals for the people they serve, never which service members, veterans, civilians or family members took part.

CCT access is limited to the people and households covered by your organization’s license. Please do not share your organization’s link, films or program materials with anyone outside that group.

If another school, workplace, agency or community would like access, invite them to contact Impactful Networks. We will help them find the right option for their needs.

Explore it on your own with a free demo: previews of all four programs, the full group leader guides and a sample engagement report. Sign-up asks for no payment details, and nothing ends on a date. Start your free demo (opens in a new tab).

The program is delivered through a turnkey, intuitive dashboard that lets you explore at your own pace. GiGi, the toolkit’s built-in guide, helps you find your way around, plan a session and get answers from the programs’ own material.

A community license is required to access the CCT. If you would like to bring it to your own community, please reach out — we are here for you. If your school or community already has an active license and you are an educator, parent or group leader, contact us for additional support in accessing and implementing the program.

No. You do not need to be an artist or a mental health professional to participate in the Creative Coping Toolkit. A little curiosity helps.

“Creative” refers to the different ways people can learn, reflect and practice coping through film, conversation, writing, games and interactive activities. Ready-to-use guides and prompts make the program easy to explore independently or with a group you lead.

Pricing is based on the size of your community, not a set price list, so we work one-on-one with each organization.

The Creative Coping Toolkit is licensed to schools, workplaces, government agencies and community organizations. Annual and multi-year licenses are available, and access can include students, employees, service members, educators and families, depending on the agreement.

Book a walkthrough and we will walk you through the program and put a proposal together for your community.

Yes. A 24-hour screening license is available for organizations that want to host a shared film experience or community event, and it is a popular choice for non-profits and community groups. Guided discussion materials and practical next-step resources can also be included.

For communities seeking deeper engagement, the Creative Coping Toolkit offers extended and annual access to chapter modules, expert answers, activities and additional tools that help turn a single viewing into ongoing learning and conversation.

Typically we see one-month licenses convert to year-long ones: the Creative Coping Toolkit was designed to be used throughout the year, not in a single week. Either way, there is a license to suit your needs and your community.

We can recommend the right license based on your audience, goals and desired length of access. Contact us to explore the options.

A streaming service gives you a film. The Creative Coping Toolkit gives your community a way to use it.

Each film is paired with chapter modules, expert answers, guided discussion prompts, interactive activities and group leader resources that help people move from watching to reflecting, talking and practicing new skills.

Organizations can screen the films together or offer on-demand access so individuals and families can participate on their own time. Some titles may also be available independently on streaming platforms, but those rentals do not include the full Creative Coping Toolkit experience.

Yes. CCT licenses include guidance for group leaders, onboarding resources and ongoing implementation support from our Engagement Team.

Support can be tailored to schools, workplaces, government agencies and community organizations. Group leader training covers navigating the platform, choosing films and activities, introducing sensitive topics, guiding respectful discussions and connecting participants with an organization’s existing support resources when needed.

Group leaders do not need to be mental health professionals, and the training does not prepare them to provide clinical care. It gives them the structure, tools and support needed to use the CCT confidently and responsibly.

The Creative Coping Toolkit includes built-in tools that help organizations understand participation, engagement and learning.

Program managers, who sign in with a link we email them, see an engagement report: check-ins, participants, views of chapters and expert answers, Learning Journey steps, quick checks and quiz results, and survey totals. It shows totals only, never one person’s activity.

These insights help organizations assess engagement, identify patterns and strengthen implementation over time. Available reporting features and access levels vary by license.

Yes. Licensed mental health professionals, behavioral health organizations and healthcare providers may use the Creative Coping Toolkit as a supplemental mental health education resource when permitted by their license.

The films, guided discussions and activities can help introduce topics, encourage reflection and support conversation. The CCT is not therapy, a clinical treatment or a substitute for professional care.

Professionals are responsible for using the materials within their scope of practice, professional judgment and ethical requirements.

The CCT is a complete, ready-to-use mental health education program. It includes films, guided discussions, activities, resources for group leaders and implementation support.

It can be used on its own or alongside existing wellness programs, counseling services, employee benefits and community resources. The CCT helps build awareness, practical skills and engagement, but it is not therapy, crisis care or a replacement for professional mental health services.

Yes. CCT films include subtitles in multiple languages, and additional languages may be available depending on the film and license.

The CCT also offers a Spanish-language version of the platform with translated resources, activities and subtitled films. Contact us to confirm the languages and accessibility features currently available for the program you are considering.

GiGi is an ethical AI guide that helps adults explore the Creative Coping Toolkit and turn its brain science, films and activities into practical next steps.

Every adult in an organization that has GiGi on can use it: program managers, group leaders and community members such as parents and caregivers. Program managers can limit the chat to program managers who sign in. Teens on their own and children don’t get the chat; they can still use the Today page’s box to find or build a session.

GiGi is a guide to the toolkit and the topics it covers, not a mental health professional, therapist, clinical service or crisis resource, and it doesn’t diagnose or treat anything. People should always use their own judgment and follow their organization’s policies when using AI-generated suggestions.

GiGi answers from the programs’ own material and shows what it used, helps you find your way around the toolkit, and plans a session to fit the time you have.

A teacher might ask for a 20-minute session on worry before exams. A manager might ask which chapter suits a team conversation about digital well-being. A parent might ask what the film says about cyberbullying.

GiGi doesn’t give general advice: when the toolkit has no answer, it says so and points to Get support or the guides.

Because GiGi uses AI, responses may not always be complete or accurate. Adults should review suggestions, use their judgment and follow their organization’s policies before sharing or using the material.

Yes. GiGi is included with every Creative Coping Toolkit license at no additional charge. In the free demo, an organization can ask GiGi up to 25 questions a month. Everyone also has a daily limit per device.

Program managers can limit the chat to program managers who sign in, and an organization can ask us to switch GiGi off, but neither reduces the licensing fee.

GiGi is designed for adults age 18+ and uses a carefully curated knowledge base grounded in the Creative Coping Toolkit’s mental health education, brain science and wellness resources.

GiGi includes safeguards intended to reduce harmful or inappropriate responses, but AI can still make mistakes. Users should review suggestions, use their judgment and follow their organization’s policies before acting on or sharing a response.

GiGi is not a mental health professional, therapist, clinical service or crisis resource. When words suggest someone may be in danger, it shows crisis lines instead of answering. If a response seems inaccurate or concerning, please use the feedback button so our team can review it and continue improving GiGi.

Workplaces can use the CCT for employee learning, leadership development, ERG events, team conversations, wellness campaigns and family engagement.

Films, guided discussions and practical activities help make mental health education more approachable. The CCT can also complement existing EAPs, employee benefits and wellness resources by helping employees better understand when and how to use them.

The CCT can launch at any time. Popular opportunities include employee onboarding, open enrollment, Mental Health Awareness Month, ERG events and seasonal wellness campaigns.

Our Engagement Team can help you create an implementation plan based on your audience, goals and calendar. The CCT can then support learning and conversation throughout the year.

Our Engagement Team provides communication materials, launch guidance and ongoing ideas to help organizations introduce the CCT and keep people engaged throughout the license period.

Depending on your license and implementation plan, support may also include virtual screenings, filmmaker or expert conversations, leadership events and other community experiences.

Yes. We work with organizations ranging from small teams to global employers, nonprofits and public agencies.

Organizations we have served include Microsoft, Walgreens, KPMG, Salesforce and Levi’s. Each license and implementation plan is tailored to the organization’s size, audience and goals.

The work behind Impactful Networks began in 2010 through IndieFlix Education. In May 2025, we began operating under the Impactful Networks name, building on more than 15 years of experience creating film-powered mental health education for schools, workplaces and communities.

Our HQ is based in Seattle, WA and our employees work all over the country.

We are a small and mighty team of amazing talent who are all deeply committed to helping others and the communities we serve.

We are a privately-held woman-owned business. The team ranges from Gen Z to seniors.

Award-winning filmmaker, author, speaker, mental health advocate and mother of six, Scilla Andreen (opens in a new tab) started the company and is the CEO.