THUNDER BAY - Young artists throughout the region are hoping to start a conversation about mental health, not with words, but with colours, shapes, and sculpture.
On Thursday, the Thunder Bay Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force hosted a reception for a new exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Mindful Expressions: My Mind, My Art.
“Our initial goal for this was to find out what youth want and need in order to feel mentally well,” said Vanessa Copetti, coordinator with the Thunder Bay Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force. “We recognize that it’s not always easy to have these conversations so that is why decided to incorporate art as a way for them to express themselves.”
More than 50 youth were approached to participate in the exhibit. During the last four months, the youth were mentored by local artists on various artistic techniques and skills. Their artistic work was guided by a series of focus group questions dealing with mental health promotion, diversity and inclusivity, and access to services.
Copetti said the exhibit goes well beyond developing artistic skills because it’s about having a conversation and sharing emotions, feelings, and thoughts on the canvas.
“It’s just an easier way for them to express themselves,” she said. “Sometimes it’s not easy to openly talk about these kinds of these things. It can be really sensitive topic, but art tends to allow a person to really express what they are thinking and feeling and they don’t have to say much at all, basically the art just speaks for itself.”
Local artist and artist educator, Pam Cain, along with Shaun Hedican, Janelle Wawia, and Derek Khani served as artist mentors working on the project. Cain said art becomes a vehicle for youth to remove themselves from personally talking about issues like mental health, which can be difficult for them.
“In my process we used a little bit of words in there, colours, lines and shapes,” she said. “Youth can get those feelings out and not be confronted with the reality of sitting down and talking to someone. They can keep opening themselves up in that way.
The Thunder Bay Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force also partnered with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to collect feedback from the youth artists that will be used as part of a research project for future mental health projects and initiatives.
“It allows us hear a youth voice,” Copetti said. “What a better way than to ask youth themselves what they think and what they need in order to feel mentally well.”
Creating art and allowing emotions and thoughts to be expressed with paint, beads, or sculpture is very beneficial for youth dealing with mental health issues, but Cain said even those viewing the pieces of work will be part of the conversation.
“People can see it as a way of expressing themselves,” she said. “Art always incites some sort of emotion. People can see through the art work what the people are trying to express and find other people who have common thoughts.”
For 14-year-old, Chloe Netemegesic, who worked with artist Shaun Hedican, taking part in the Mindful Expressions exhibit was a really rewarding experience.
Netemegesic said art is so helpful because there are so many different ways of interpreting it.
“It helps a lot of people with their health by calming them down and distracting them from different things like stress or school or things that are hard for them,” she said. “Art doesn’t really have a big definition or a specific answer. Anything you believe and anything you want art to be it can be.”
Katrina Slipperjack, a 17-year-old youth artist who also worked with Hedican, said art also helps her express herself, no matter what she is feeling.
“Art is a way to let your emotions out and get inspired,” she said. “It clears your mind from all the negative thoughts you are feeling.”
Cain added that art is a great way for youth to allow those emotions and feelings out, especially if they are difficult to understand.
“When they are experiencing difficulties and how quite often they turn to art to help calm themselves or express some of those ideas they are holding inside and getting them out and feeling better,” she said.
“I think they are all quite proud of what they did,” Cain added.
The Mindful Expressions exhibit is on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from Jan. 12 to Feb. 12.
