Arts & Mental Health
Arts & Mental Health
For those who survive trauma resulting from combat, abuse, natural disaster, or death--to those that battle with the internal storms of dementia, depression, or the myriad of other mental illnesses, there is a compelling body of evidence that makes a case for the positive impact of art on mental health, wellness and recovery.
The projects in this collection are ones that work to improve mental health through creativity. Explore how artists employ theater as a medium through which to illuminate and help heal pain, use art to reconcile emotional conflicts, and more.
Left: Excerpt from My Father's War. Read about the production in the profile below!
 Aids underserved youth in recovery from psychological trauma through art therapy and healing public art installations. Mental illness carries a stigma, especially in minority communities, many suffer in silent shame internalizing their emotions leading to severe depression and suicide. Art stimulates the brain, creating a chemical response of dopamine production, beneficial for those battling depression. Early identification, evaluation and treatment are essential to recovery and resiliency. |
 PPCS is an ecumenical human services agency serving those who are homeless, especially those living with mental lillness, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. Tthe community collabARTive is an integrated component of the Allen Ave Transitional Housing program, working with the men who are seeking permanent housing in the community. |
 Artist Rha Goddess’s Hip Hop Mental Health Project (HHMHP) seeks to shift the cultural paradigm of shame and alienation surrounding mental illness and satisfy the need for a safe place to confront mental health issues and obtain vital information. |
 Reconnecting, a new musical composition for full orchestra and drum circle, was conceived and developed by composer Ben Goldberg and Central Ohio Symphony Executive Director Warren Hyer to create a musical dialogue about a unique local rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders with mental illness or substance abuse issues. The piece will be a single movement work of approximately 10 to 15 minutes, to be premiered during the Symphony’s 2014-15 concert season. |
 Project Onward is a studio and gallery dedicated to the creative growth of artists with mental and developmental disabilities. Project Onward provides workspace, art materials, professional guidance, and opportunities for exhibition and sales to artists who have exceptional talents but face challenges ranging from autism to mental illness. |
 Our Mission: Through performances of the highest artistic quality, post-show discussions, and creative workshops, to honor and serve our veterans and to help our communities process the social and cultural effects of war with integrity, in an honest and responsible manner.
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 In 2008, ten years after Tamms CMAX Prison opened, human rights advocates started a program to help those incarcerated there to cope with the long-term and inhumane conditions. Tamms Year 10 is a project created by human rights activists that allows the public to get insight into the negative effects of extended solitary confinement, and how it directly correlates with the inability for inmates to react to rehabilitation tactics and creates poor mental health. Tamms Poerty and the Photo Request from Solidarity are both projects that use the arts to help connect those in confinement with the |
 Jaeson Parsons started the Graffiti of War Project after he returned from Iraq, where he served as an Army medic, and found that not all of his therapy needs could be met through the Veterans Affairs hospital. Sparked by the off-hand and impromptu thoughts and artwork scrawled on the latrine walls in Iraq and Afghanistan, Graffiti of War has evolved into a collection of original artworks and photos of war zone graffiti by service members. Project organizers traveled to bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to document and preserve the murals and makeshift memorials painted by troops. |
 Rock for Health seeks to educate artists on health issues, provide medical information, and be an advocate for musicians in regards to health insurance coverage and long-term care. Rock for Health provides information on affordable health plans for artist groups and individuals and information about medical conditions that effect musicians. The goal is to address health issues before they escalate into expensive hospital bills. This profile courtesy of Air Traffic Control. |
 Project Willowbrook proposes a new and dynamic model for asset mapping and public engagement in civic planning. Willowbrook, an unincorporated neighborhood of Los Angeles County south of downtown Los Angeles, northwest of Compton and just south of Watts, is undergoing a major urban transformation spurred by the landmark reopening of the Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital. |
 CAMMO fosters and nurtures the musical talent of veterans and active duty service members by providing them with opportunities to train with professionals, to record, and to perform. CAMMO brings veterans together with industry experts and helps them work toward career opportunities they might otherwise never connect with. |