
Queensland pays tribute to World Mental Health Day with an art exhibition raising awareness about mental health from 4 to 10 October.
The Richmond Fellowship Queensland, a leading provider of mental health services, hosted the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition as a part of Queensland’s Health Week, showcasing 270 works of artists with lived mental health experiences.
The exhibition has run for 33 years and continues to embrace the power of art and encourage conversations about mental health, recovery and well-being.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five Australians experienced a 12-month mental disorder between 2020 and 2022, which constitutes a diagnosis of a lifetime mental disorder. Two in five people aged 16 to 24 were diagnosed with a 12-month mental disorder.
Tea Delalic, Manager of Communications and Events of Richmond Fellowship Queensland, hopes visitors will develop an awareness of mental health after viewing each piece.
“With all our artwork, there’s one common theme you’ll always see and that is hope. It’s no matter what their journey has been, or what they’ve gone through, there is always that hope that things will be okay and it will get better.”
Delalic said many artists were initially hesitant to share their art because society places mental health labels that may limit their potential and affect their self-esteem.
“Some artists need to come to a few exhibitions first to know that they are capable of doing this. With the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition, artists are like a little team that gives positive feedback to one another.”
All works on display are for sale, with 85 per cent of their sales going to the artist.
Pauly Jay, a barber-turned-artist who painted live in the exhibition, shared his experience with mental health and passion for street-art style paintings.
“I have ADHD and I always need something to focus on. If I don’t have that, I get really lost. I paint faces and animals and it helps my focus,” he said.

When asked about how art has helped his mental health journey, Jay explained that art has given him a purpose in life.
“With art, it’s not about selling the art, it’s about selling yourself. If someone leaves and it’s inspired them to start painting again, I have helped someone.”
Maria Susetyo, a visitor, says some art pieces moved her and she wishes to see more exhibitions in the future.
“This is my first time visiting a mental health art exhibition and I am in awe with how beautiful these artists have expressed how they heal from mental health issues,” she said.
Susetyo shared that she had no education on mental health when she was younger, but now she wishes her kids could learn the importance of mental health.

“As parents, we should acknowledge the importance of mental health and make sure our kids accept themselves more with self-love. With exhibitions like this, it’s a better way to spread awareness about mental health,”
The Queensland Government provides 24-hour emergency mental health services at Head to Health.
For Hong Kong, mental health services are available at the Clinical Psychological Service of the Social Welfare Department or by call 2343 2255 for support.
《The Young Reporter》
The Young Reporter (TYR) started as a newspaper in 1969. Today, it is published across multiple media platforms and updated constantly to bring the latest news and analyses to its readers.

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