ArtThink encourages communities to learn more about mental health, reduce stigma and develop skills and knowledge for supporting community members to maintain their mental health and wellbeing.

We use the Mental Health First Aid program and other evidence based mental health information as the basis for engaging with families and specific communities.

Our key objectives are to:

• Improve the mental health literacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and
  multicultural groups in South Australia
• Support the confidence of family and friends to respond effectively to mental health issues
  and situations including crisis
• Decrease the stigma associated with mental illness.

How it works

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

Education

Groups are invited to learning activities that cover a variety of topics. This learning includes strategies for maintaining and strengthening our sense of emotional and mental wellbeing. A further central aspect of the program is learning about mental health problems and disorders as well as skills and knowledge for providing Mental Health First Aid.

Groups can focus their learning by choosing a particular area of emotional wellbeing or mental health which is relevant to them. For instance, workshops may be designed around the theme of parenting, cultural identity and relationships, leadership or trauma and stress. In this way, participants can expand their knowledge of issues which relate to community and family wellbeing.

Community participation

With facilitation from arts based educators, we invite participants to express their learning and understandings of mental health issues using different art forms such as painting, photography, video, stories or theatre. We also encourage participants to use creative or artistic ways to develop a community resource which invites others to learn about mental health.

Community action

In their group work, we hope participants will be able to develop strong peer networks as well as contribute to a local language and naming of mental health issues. The artworks produced in these programs can become part of future community education and peer support programs for other groups. Key group members may also become facilitators and contributors to more formal mental health education programs relevant to their communities.

 Download the ArtThink Booklet here

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