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Mental health clients express themselves with art
Photo provided by Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health
"Mental Thermometer" by Dayle is just one of many artworks going on display Sunday as part of the "Illuminating Hope" art show.
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Published: October 9, 2009
ST. PETERSBURG - A special kind of art show takes place Sunday at North Shore Park.
The showcase of artwork, spoken work and song created by Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health clients from adults to teens diagnosed with mental illness will be on display from 4 to 8 p.m.
The artistic consortium dubbed, "Illuminating Hope," now in its third year, provides a forum for those living with mental illness to share their stories, said Elizabeth Austin Suncoast Center spokeswoman.
"It's a big deal," Austin said. "It's [art] coping, resilience and a relief, it gives them something to look forward to."
In an effort to cope with mental illness, the Suncoast Center has found that using his creativity relieves some of the pain of mental illness. Although there's no official art therapy program at Suncoast, art sessions to relax clients, Austin said.
"It draws out things that they can't get out in therapy," she said. "It works, and it shouldn't go away."
The art show coincides with a "Wellness Fair" and "Sunset Stroll" benefit walk as part of National Mental Awareness Week Oct. 4-11.
One in four adults — roughly 57.7 million Americans — will experience a mental health disorder in a given year.
The awareness week activities highlight the disorders and attempt to lessen the stigma of diagnosis, said Donald Turnbaugh, former president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Pinellas County.
"It's just an overlooked and underfunded problem nationwide," said Turnbaugh, now a NAMI board member. "It's easy to point the finger, but most of these people can live normal lives. It's a terribly misunderstood illness."
The goal for the Wellness Fair and Sunset Stroll he said, is not for his organization or mental illness clients to receive special treatment, rather he seeks equal treatment.
"We would like mental illness to be treated like any physical ailment," he said. "We would like to inform people on some of these issues."
Illuminating Hope Art Show; 4-8 p.m. Sunday free; showcase of artwork, spoken work and song created by Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health clients from adults to teens diagnosed with mental illness; North Shore Park, 901 North Shore Drive NE, St. Petersburg; (727) 327-7656.
Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.
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