Mental Health Awareness Month 2022

For the month of May, we observed Mental Health Awareness Month. Through a series of blogs, newsletters and videos, we encouraged conversations and creativity supporting mental health awareness and well being. Our desire in this series was to explore the Zentangle Method as a supportive tool for mental health and to highlight stories of those using the Zentangle Method in their own mental health journey.

We are grateful to all of you in the Zentangle community for joining us in these conversations and sharing your stories. Our hope is that these conversations help reduce the stigma around mental health struggles.

In this blog, we will bring together all of the blogs, newsletters and videos so that they can be easily found. Bookmark this page, share it with a friend and revisit whenever you need to.

Mental Health Awareness Blogs and Newsletters

• Blog: My Zentangle Toolbox
• Blog: Vitamin Z
• Blog: CZT Family Tree: Russell McDonald
• Blog: A No Mistakes Philosophy... On and Off the Tiles
• Blog: Tangle Your Own Conclusions
• Blog: Tangling Journeys from an Art Therapist
• Blog: One Stroke at a Time...
• Newsletter: The Zentangle Method as a Coping Strategy during Covid
• Newsletter: WELLbeing

#WELLbeing Series

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and with the idea of improving our overall well being, we set out on an exploration of the tangle well (introduced here in 2013). These short tutorials are meant to provide small bursts of inspiration to relax and focus your mind. Join us as we put pen to paper with intention and take small, yet powerful, steps towards our own #WELLbeing.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5

K12ArtChart

Earlier this month, Rick and Maria appeared on the K12ArtChat podcast (episode #77)  to discuss the Zentangle Method and mental health. You can click the image below to listen.

Rick and Maria enjoyed having this conversation and hope to have many more in the future. If you have a podcast or know of one that would welcome them, please email julie@zentangle.com. 

Thank you!

A special thank you to Russell McDonald, Paige Sheinberg, Bronagh Donnelly and all of you who participated in these conversations in blog comments, emails and social media. We are once again in awe of the kindness, compassion and honesty shared by the Zentangle community. Although Mental Health Awareness Month is coming to end, we hope that these conversations will continue.

The Zentangle Foundation

The Zentangle Foundation continues its support of studies and research of the Zentangle Method. The Zentangle Foundation is a non profit organization which helps support outreach, research and provides scholarships for Certified Zentangle Teacher trainings.

With support from the Zentangle Foundation, the University of Massachusetts Medical School conducted a pilot study exploring the Zentangle Method as a virtual mindfulness-based art therapy for people with serious mental illness. They looked at use of the Zentangle Method as art therapy to improve symptoms and daily functioning for individuals who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder. The study has not been published yet, however, the preliminary abstract is available here. 

It is because of the generosity of the Zentangle community that we are able to support these endeavors and reach the people that need the Zentangle Method.  Each and every tax deductible donation helps us reach these goals . . . one stroke at a time. We appreciate your support! 

Donate to the Zentangle Foundation here.

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Thank you to everyone who left your thoughts on our last blog, One Stroke at a Time... We have randomly selected Peg Foltz to receive an anything is possible...one stroke at a time Zentangle MantraBand.

At the request of the first recipient, we are choosing a new commenter from My Zentangle Tool Box to receive the gratitude and appreciation Zentangle MantraBand. We have randomly selected Jessica Dykes (AKA Jake).

If your name is listed above, please send your snail mail address to julie@zentangle.com