Building Self-Esteem One Step at a Time

Why Aren’t You Smiling Inc. or W.A.Y.S is a faith based non-profit organization in Indianapolis, Indiana, that caters to elementary, middle, and high school students who deal with some type of mental health issue, whether that be anger, depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, etc. At W.A.Y.S., our concentration is to help our young participants cope with their mental health using organic methods. We do not claim to be doctors or therapists. We do however; consider our organization a compliment to the professionals mentioned above.

Our goal at W.A.Y.S. is to foster a commitment to young people that will promote friendships, social skills, healthy behaviors, and to create a sense of hope for the future, despite his or her mental health issue. Our organic and therapeutic methods, include, real talk sessions, yoga, dance, music, art, volunteerism, and physical exercise. These methods have been proven throughout the years to battle depression, anxiety, etc. We believe that each child participant in our organization will eventually be able to manage his or her behaviors by participating in the programs offered.

Our founder, Armand Fuller, envisioned Why Aren't You Smiling Inc. in 2016 after his arrest for armed robbery in Indianapolis and discovering that he had a mental illness. Armand is working to ensure that no other child is left behind, and therefore developed this program from his jail cell. W.A.Y.S. is a safe haven for children - somewhere they can open up to their peers and trusted adults, sharing their fears, hopes and struggles. This is something Armand never did but wishes he had been able to do. He hopes that this program will make the children feel more whole rather than broken or succumbing to their mental and emotional insecurities, which could lead to negative and criminal behaviors.

A program that focuses solely on the mental health of its participants, W.A.Y.S. was started to provide positive programs that curb, correct and/or mitigate behaviors such as depression, anger, anxiety and other mental health issues. These positive programs will serve as a pipeline to a positive future that in turn will diminish criminal behaviors. 

The multi-faceted approach in W.A.Y.S., provides methods to learn discipline, structure, respect, social skills, personal communication skills, goal setting, building self-esteem, and aid in academic success. These methods have been proven throughout the years to battle depression, anxiety, etc. We believe that each child participant in our organization will eventually be able to manage his or her behaviors by participating in the programs offered.

Multiple studies have shown these organic activities to have positive effects on mental health and reducing negative behaviors. A study published in “Frontiers of Psychology” found that when you try to move in synchrony with someone else, it also improves your self-esteem. Additionally, an article written for Harvard’s Health Blog stated, “For people with attentiondeficit disorder (ADHD), another study showed that a single 20-minute bout of moderateintensity cycling briefly improved their symptoms. It enhanced the participants’ motivation for tasks requiring focused thought, increased their energy, and reduced their feelings of confusion, fatigue, and depression.