A community event at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) today provided a platform for people living with mental illness to celebrate their creative strengths.
ArtBeat is a music and arts festival organised annually by Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ¡¯s Mental Health Recovery Service to mark Mental Health Week.
More than 60 paintings, sculptures and drawings were on display in the main foyers of GCUH and Robina Hospital and a music festival in the parklands behind GCUH featured performances from about 20 mental health consumers and staff, a free BBQ and more.
Creative Artisan Helen Mason and Music Therapist Madeline Bridgland said empowering people living with a mental illness to use their artistic skills could be a vital step in recovery.
¡°Creativity is such a great therapeutic outlet,¡± Ms Mason said.
Miss Bridgland said performers would range from solo acts to bands of various genres such as rock, jazz, indie and pop music.
¡°For some this will be their first time performing in public, while others have joined us in previous ArtBeat events,¡± she said.
¡°Music is a tool that anyone can use to maintain mental health and for many of the performers, music therapy has played an important role in facilitating their recovery.
¡°ArtBeat is now a major event on the mental health team¡¯s calendar. It provides a valuable opportunity for everyone to socialise, listen to music and see artworks and join in the name of raising awareness and reducing stigma,¡± Miss Bridgland said.
Hospital visitors and the general public can also join in ArtBeat by voting in the People¡¯s Choice award within the art exhibition.
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has joined with non-government partners including the Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland, Headspace, Gold bridge, Active & Healthy Lifestyles and Ozcare, to provide a wide range of information and support at the ArtBeat music festival.
In 2015-16 Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ delivered 144,415 occasions of service through its mental health outpatient clinics, community-based services and outreach services. Mental health inpatient services at GCUH and Robina Hospital provided more than 47,800 bed days during 2015-16.
The health service has a 24-hour specialist mental health care phone number ¨C 1300 64 2255.