Visualising Mental Health Forum a success!

Last Thursday we kicked off the Visualising Mental Health Exhibition for 2019 with a forum for the public to introduce the project, profile some prize winning projects from this year and talk about the importance of these kinds of projects in the prevention of mental illness and the promotion of mental health.

I’ve included some photos below.

The SA Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns set the scene by reminding us that what we do to prevent mental illness is as important as what we do to treat it.

We then heard from two groups who won prizes this year:

Mother in the Making – who have developed a journal/self-reflection book for new mothers.

Monster Me – who have designed a mobile game built on the principles of mental fitness.

We finished by having a panel discussion, led by UniSA Mental Health Researcher Professor Nicholas Procter and involving myself, Jane Andrew (Director of Match Studio) and Chris Burns.

We answered questions about the project and took a couple of excellent questions from the audience around the topics of public art, climate change, social isolation and depression in the elderly.

There was a good turnout – 150+ – which moved from the Allan Scott Auditorium to the Kerry Packer Gallery to see the exhibition of 20+ student projects from this year.

A video of the event was taken (you get to see me wearing shorts like I do for every important event) and will be up soon the the Hawke Centre Website.

The exhibition is available for viewing until the 23rd October at the Kerry Packer Gallery. If you have an interest in mental health, please consider dropping by to have a look.

A number of thank-yous were given on the night, but I want to acknowledge the Match Studio team and particularly Ann Verbeek, who was meticulous in her organisation of the event and the preparation of all the materials necessary.