A unique art exhibition exploring the themes around mental health and resilience will open at the Last Drop cafe to help celebrate Mental Health Week.
The theme of Mental Health Week 2009, which runs from Sunday, October 4, to Sunday, October 10, is Building Resilience - Sign up, Link in and Get involved.
Nine consumers from the Therapy and Recovery Service (TARS) of Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS) will exhibit around 15 over five weeks from October 3.
TARS (Liverpool/Fairfield) Occupational Therapist Libby Waugh said the consumers had been working with two Occupational Therapists as well as three Occupational Therapy students over 10 weeks to produce art work around the Building Resilience theme.
The project became very real for the consumers and everyone experienced a true sense of accomplishment and pride in their involvement in this show of resilience , Ms Waugh said
One participating artist said: Art gives me a voice. It allows me to get out what is happening in my head and my emotions because I am not very good at talking. Painting for this exhibition has allowed me to do something I enjoy while helping the therapeutic process.
Another participating artist said: It’s a good feeling to express myself through art. I feel a little happier after I have been to art group. The resilience theme makes the drawing easier because it contributes to the painting.
Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time. Around 20 per cent or one in five Australians will experience a mental illness at some point in their life, Ms Waugh said. We hope this exhibition will go some way towards dispelling the stigma attached to having a mental illness.
The campaign aims to increase awareness of people’s own resilience, that is, developing individual strengths and abilities to bounce back from the challenges and setbacks that life presents us all with.
One Response to “New exhibition Builds Resilience through Art”
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Its great to see the myths around mental illness de-stigmatised and the people who suffer with mental illness supported and recognised for their talents. The quality of the art work is extremely good and the exhibition a pleasure to view. Great to see the Last Drop supporting this worth while cause.