Meaningful activities aiding mental health consumer recovery

More than 230 pieces of art, created by consumers and staff of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) Mental Health Service, have adorned the walls of the hospital’s ArtSpace recently as part of the Meaningful Activities Program’s Windows to Our World (WoW) exhibition.

Meaningful Activities Program (MAP) Coordinator Katie explains the benefits for consumers who participate in the program.

“Whether it be art, pottery, or cooking, the MAP is a form of diversional therapy that provides consumers with therapeutic activities to improve their mental and physical well-being,” Katie said.

“The WoW exhibition has been a fixture on the RBWH calendar for more than 20 years, with more than 230 pieces displayed and available for sale this year. This year’s theme was ‘Self-Care,’ encouraging entrants to reflect on self-care practices and what it means to them.”

This year’s exhibition featured emerging artist Kathy Harwin, an RBWH mental health consumer who uses art to explore the complexities of identity and healing.

“For me, art is life. It helps me express what I couldn’t say in words,” Kathy said.

Kathy’s collection provides a raw, honest, and unfiltered account of her time in the RBWH Mental Health Unit.

“I hope the pieces in the collection offer others the same sense of comfort, courage, and connection that creating them provided me,” Kathy said.

The WoW exhibition is held every October at RBWH as part of Mental Health Month to promote awareness, conversation, and action to improve mental health outcomes for consumers and the wider community.

Proceeds from sales of the art works go toward resources for consumers in the acute mental health inpatient unit or directly to the consumer artists.