Art exhibit battles mental health

A GROUP of visual artists, poets, writers and psychologists have joined to mount “ArThrive: Rise Above Mental Health Challenges,” an art and poetry exhibit set on May 18 at the GI Lodge in Baguio City.

Project ArThrive, a month-long exhibit, is set to launch illustrations, poetry and testimonials of people with mental disorders with their caregivers and family support group written and interpreted by Psychology professionals from Saint Louis University.

ArThrive aims to help people with mental disorder to rise above it and be productive as it also eyes to educate the audience on mental disabilities and encouraged to seek professional help.

Participating artists are Gladys Anne Labsan, Daniel Palma Tayona, Kelly Ramos, Jhoan Medrano, Jimbo Docena Albano, Kora Dandan Albano, Dindo Llana, Venariz Martinez, Joseph Andrew Carvajal, Ged Alangui, Earljohn A. Desuasido, Czarina Calinawagan, Bumbo Villanueva, Ray Yodong, Kidlat de Guia with writers Ashley Valdez, Aidylvir Borje, Loreaine Cerezo, Mia Warren–Cheong, Bing Maximo, Faridah Cabbigat, Eric Pascua, Triceayn DG Prestousa, Ederlyn Gatchalian, Nerisa Gonzalo, Jeremy Dela Cruz, Kryza Sito, Gerz Sanil, with documentation by Ompong Tan and Ric Maniquis

Proceeds of the project will be used to set up a Family Support Group Program of the Philippine Mental Health Association Cordillera Chapter Inc. (PMHA CCI).

The project is part of a year-long celebration of the PMHA CCI of their 60th Foundation anniversary themed “You and I: MINDing Each Other” with activities up until October aiming to put mental health in focus.

On June 22, an eco-walk is set at the Mt. Sto. Tomas in Tuba, Benguet followed by another Mental Health Symposium on September 13 and on October 18, a culminating activity of the 60th anniversary will be held.

Gina Camsol of the PMHA said the PMHA-CCI served clients reaching 773 last year, who all went through counseling and psychiatric consultation with 492 individuals referred to for psychological evaluation and 139 underwent debriefing.

The Philippine Statistics Authority noted that 20% of Filipinos suffer from mental disorder. A World Health Organization in a 2016 study said some 1.1 billion of the world’s six billion population suffer from mental problem. But, even with this number, professional psychological help is underutilized, according to a study made by Antover Tuliao from University of Nebraska’s Department of Psychology. The reasons are stigma, hiya, loss of face, fear of being labeled as crazy, preference for lay networks (rather than professionals, because professional are considered as “ibang tao”).

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph