Jamie Tworkowski

I Wish I Had More Friends

Many of us are lonely. Quite simply, we wish we had more friends. Well let’s talk about it. Why is it so hard to make and maintain friendships as an adult? What do we do when a friendship fades or needs to end? Are there things we can do to be healthy in the midst of loneliness? And how can we be intentional when it comes to the possibility of new friends?

In this conversational and interactive session, these questions are explored in depth. Beyond encouragement, Jamie works to leave audience members feeling like they can take specific steps to see positive change as it relates to friendship.

“I Wish I Had More Friends” can be a keynote or it can be tailored for a workshop / conversation that Jamie facilitates for smaller groups.

Connection, Community, and COVID19

The coronavirus has impacted every age group and every aspect of our lives. While college students have endured less harm to their physical health due to COVID19, their mental health has been affected in ways we are still trying to understand. From the disruptions to their education to diminished interactions, young people will need to rely on new kinds of connections in order to survive and heal. In this new talk that can be delivered virtually or in-person, TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowski emphasizes the power of community and how technology can provide a much needed lifeline. Drawing on his own experiences, from the loneliness of living in a new city during a pandemic to testing positive for COVID19, Jamie seeks to assure audiences that they are not alone in this strange season and the best way through is to connect with each other openly and honestly.

School District Program

What started as a surprising request from a school district in Illinois has proven to be a model for success. It takes a unique speaker to connect with middle school students, high school folks, and adults, all in one day. 15+ years after founding the mental health non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms, Jamie Tworkowski has proven to be that unique speaker.

Jamie shares the TWLOHA origin story, how a movement was born from a simple attempt to help one person. He highlights what he’s learned about mental health and suicide prevention since 2006, from barriers that contribute to stigma and silence to how the big-picture conversation has evolved and changed in recent years. Jamie speaks to the healthy use of social media and technology as it relates to mental health, especially for young people. The back half of Jamie’s talks focus on specific action steps: professional help (counseling / treatment), community (friends / family / safe trusted adults), and self-care.

The goal is to leave each audience member feeling encouraged. Jamie has a gift for helping people believe that their life matters and that it’s okay to be honest and to ask for help.

These community events, which can be spread out over two days and can also include a specific talk for teachers and staff, are something we’re excited to offer for the fall and beyond.

The Relearning of Belonging - Even Now

Some doors have to be closed. We make hard decisions with our own wellbeing in mind. We make choices for health and peace and happiness. It can be tempting to return to what’s familiar, to something that at one time served us, or even felt like home. In these moments you will have to remember why you closed each different door. This new reality, this relearning of belonging, is about what’s best for you tomorrow and today, as you continue to move forward.

It takes time to heal and recover after any loss. We can’t just close a door and stare at the door expecting to heal. We have to look for other doors, other good things. New friends, new activities, new places. Over time we forget what no longer serves us as our focus shifts to what’s working in the present. The future replaces the past.

Life is worth living even when our dreams feel out of reach. In the midst of grief, in the midst of disappointment, in a season of uncertainty. Even if my dreams never come true, even as life looks different than I imagined, I want to keep showing up…even now.