Category: Depression
Illustrator, animator and writer Andreea Stan says art saves lives “There were situations when I felt that my art was the only thing I had and it kept me going, it didn’t let me give up”.
Artist Jessica Caudery “Writing, painting and drawing directly and indirectly became a way to express my emotions. It is difficult to say to what extent art has saved my life but it has been a constant positive, something which has perhaps kept me afloat during times of stress, anxiety and mild depression”.
ASLI Artist Louise Tomkinson states: “to me, “art saves lives” means having the power to use the language of art, as art is strong enough to pull someone back from the brink, therefore becoming the voice which enables art to create change”.
ASLI Team Member Becky Saunders “My journey in a nutshell” – Mental Illness, Health and Recovery
Visual Artist Lynn Excell speaks about grief, depression and staying creative: “‘Art Saves Lives’ to me, means that art is a way of helping to heal us when we are broken”.
ASLI Speak to Artist Mistresslisa Taylor about mental health and art in which she states, “Hand on my heart, art has saved my life. Without it I would be dead”.
Debra-Lynn Hook speaks to ASLI about her photography, mental illness and her inspiring mission; The Healing Body Image Project, “If photos help one of our women progress one step forward on her healing path, that is change worth noting”.
Artist Emma Phillips has Borderline Personality Disorder and tells ASLI “my work is hard hitting and I do feel the messages within my work could help create change how others perceive mental illness”.
Poet Tim Evans tells ASLI “Art can be comforting and cathartic. It can also challenge us, in a very visceral way, to look at the world and our attitudes to it in a new light and reconsider our thoughts and actions. In those ways, I think, art can both save lives and create change”.
Bipolar poet and visual artist Tracy Henham says ““Art saves lives” and “art creates change” are two very true statements in my eyes, art saved my life and through art I have managed to change my circumstances, my way of thinking and personal goals. Without Art I would not be here on this planet”.
John Ledger is a visual artist who uses his art to commentate on social/political issues. Speaking to ASLI about his own mental health and our worlds general malaise, John states “Our UK government is making life harder for the majority, under the word ‘austerity’. It is doing the opposite of helping people, because they are, making the problems that harms mental well-being worse”.
Despina Skordilis speaks of her poetry and depression “Art saves lives and can create change as it has saved me many times, resuscitated me, brought me back to life”
Poetry and writing from Artist Ethar Hamid who tackles mental illness with creativity
Writer Ethar Hamid finds inspiration in her mental illness and says “the issue of mental wellness is not one of being forever free from mental distress, but one of coping with and thriving despite of mental health issues”.
Bipolar Sufferer Catherine Williams “I cannot write happy poems, it does not work with my moods”.
