ArtThink

ArtThink assists communities to discuss and respond to mental health issues through art.

Specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural groups, ArtThink allows communities to learn more about mental health, reduce stigma and develop ways to better manage and respond to concern.

We use the Indigenous Mental Health First Aid and the CALD Mental Health First Aid programs as the basis for engaging with families and specific communities.

Our key objectives are to:

1. Improve the mental health literacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD groups in South Australia.
2. Support the confidence of family and friends to respond effectively to mental health issues and situations including crisis.
3. Decrease stigma associated with mental illness. These objectives will be achieved through the delivery and extension of the nationally renowned Mental Health First Aid program.

How it works

ArtThink has three stages: education, community participation and community action.

Education

After completing the Mental Health First Aid program each group of CALD or Indigenous participants will be offered an extension of the program. The extension will focus on the particular mental health issues, such as self harming, suicide issues, anxiety, drug related psychosis or post traumatic stress, that are relevant to the specific group.

In this way, participants can expand their knowledge of the mental health issues that are most relevant to them, once they have had the opportunity to develop the basic mental health literacy provided in the Mental Health First Aid program.

Community participation

With facilitation from arts based educators, we'll invite participants to express and name their understandings of mental health issues using different art forms such as painting, photography, video, stories or theatre.

Arts based programs have been found to have the capacity to engage a diverse range of community members and enhance connectedness, belonging and social capital. Thus, this approach not only acts as a vehicle for developing understanding and awareness of mental health issues within families but also begins to create relationships/community partnerships for positive responses to identified risk and/or crisis situations.

Community action

Through the previous two stages, participants will be able to develop strong peer networks as well as contribute to a local language and naming of mental health issues. The art works produced in these programs will then become part of future community education and peer support programs for other groups. Key individuals may also become facilitators and contributors to more formal mental health education programs relevant to their communities.

If you would like more information about this program please call us on (08) 8245 8100.

_{ArtThink is provided by Relationships Australia Health Promotion Services and funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.}