Woven Threads (ATOM Study Guide)

Woven Threads is an 8 x 4-minute series which, through beautiful and powerful animations, presents varied and moving stories of people living with mental health challenges. The colourful and intricate tapestry of Woven Threads reminds us that regardless of creed or colour we all belong to the same human family. Woven Threads is dedicated to telling stories through which our shared humanity compels us to recognise and, perhaps, identify with the challenges faced by someone living with mental ill health.

Despite continued efforts to de-stigmatise mental health, it is often still misunderstood and people are still often disconnected from support networks. As a result of continued environmental stressors Australians are feeling the pressure and effect on their livelihoods. Woven Threads aims to bring the conversation of people young and old and their experiences of living through a pandemic to the foreground – to start accelerating dialogue and bringing about an awareness and sense of hope to struggling communities and individuals.

Curriculum Links:

Woven Threads can be linked to the following subject areas within the Australian Curriculum from Grade 5–Year 10:

• English
• Health and Physical Education
• Media Arts
• The General Capabilities of 'Ethical Understanding' and 'Personal and Social Capability'

Woven Threads can also be used as a supplementary text when studying a range of Senior School subjects, including:

• Ethics
• Media
• Health and Human Development
• Psychology

NB. Some of the animations in Woven Threads contain reference to trauma and a range of mental health issues that may be confronting and personally resonant for students. Teacher discretion is advised. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers, listeners and readers are advised that Episode Five, 'Keenan', may contain images and voices of people who have died.