Your present [or past] circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein
My mental health background is a blend of different perspectives. I am a person with lived experience of mental health (bipolar disorder type 1 and generalized anxiety disorder). I am also the daughter and supporter of a parent with mental illness and substance use issues. From a professional perspective, I have a bachelor of social work and I have worked in a variety of nonprofit agencies, including ten working years in an agency supporting adult mental health. My experiences have led me to be passionate about mental health recovery. I am very curious about an integrative perspective to mental health recovery and how a combination of healing modalities contributes to wellness.
Creativity has always been a resource for me and, during the initial years of the pandemic, I turned to the creative arts as a source of both joy and healing. In 2023, I completed a year’s certificate as an art therapy practitioner. In 2024, I created The Art of Mental Health website where I write about therapeutic arts and mental health recovery. On October 10th, 2024 I launched my blog, Mental Health Mapping.
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A Special Note on Creativity and Mental Illness
I wanted to emphasize not all persons with mental illness are artists, although this is a common stereotype. This being said, there many persons with lived experience of mental illness are creative. There is a good book exploring the connection between mental illness and artistic talent (for example, Kay Redfield Jamison’s book, Touched with Fire). However, my blog doesn’t seek to explore the question of whether people with mental illness are more creative than the general population. Instead, the blog’s focus is using art as a tool and resource for healing rather than developing art as a skill. You do not have to be an artist or creative person to participate or benefit from the therapeutic arts activities. The emphasis is on the process and wellness benefits of art making rather than the product. As well, if you decide not to do the art activities, you can still benefit from the information and tools included in the posts.
