Mental Health Chat

Hope you're well and apologies for the hiatus @MHChat unfortunately, was unable to tweet due to a critical issue. Have now returned home and in process of recovery. So there'll be no chat this week or next. But look forward to be back soon and reply to your kind messages @MHChat

Sorry we won't have a chat todat @MHChat but hope you're keeping well and wish you a good continuation of your week. @MHChat #MHChat

Thank you for joining and sharing your views about arts and #MentalHealth. We'll leave this chat open so everyone can share their views and experiences @MHChat and if you wish, don't hesitate to share your art @MHChat. Wishing you care & kindness today and always @MHChat #MHChat

In a fast-paced world that offers little space for individual expression, arts offer a medium & language and an avenue for self-discovery and self-expression; they offer a voice to the voiceless and a language to speak about what is often to difficult to express. @MHChat #MHChat

@MHChat In response to your invitation to share our art - anyone who is interested can see my art on pollyfielding.com

@MHChat I have always loved bright colour eg poppies & have done many pictures of poppies & sunsets reflecting my love of these subjects. Vibrant colours can change my mood 4 the better. In Burano, a Venetian island, they paint their houses in bright colours - amazing 2 see #MHChat

@MHChat @FieldingPolly It takes a notebook, a pen and the courage to journey with any expression you place upon the paper.

@MHChat #mhchat Poverty and deprivation and increasing social inequality means that many talented people never get the opportunity to express themselves.

@FieldingPolly Well said. Can you expand a bit more about colours and how, in your experience, they can reflect different emotions and mood? Thank you. @MHChat #MHChat

@MHChat I find that using bright colours when painting can literally brighten up my day sometimes #MHChat

Question 1 @MHChat: In your view, is there a relationship between arts and mental health? @MHChat #MHChat

@HerseyJane Important point and wonderful to have you as an excellent member of @MHChat community. Thank you. @MHChat #MHChat

@MHChat #mhchat Without UTube and the internet I would not have had the opportunity to learn to paint or be able to contribute to a valuable site like #mhchat

Question 2 @MHChat: beyond self expression, can art and artistic expressions help estalish new connections, networks and communities? and can they generate an enhanced sense of belonging? @MHChat #MHChat

@SamCastellWard Good point. Can you expand on what makes it therapeutic? Thank you. @MHChat #MHChat

Yes, you may be an artist and do stuff to express how your mental health issues are affecting you and/or it may be therapeutic to you…

@HerseyJane Excellent point. Powerfully and beautifully expressed. @MHChat #MHChat

@MHChat #mhchat I have never been able to open a book and read it due to childhood trauma but I learned to read music almost immediately because there was no association with the past.

@HerseyJane Our prejudices are a reflection of. our own limitations and often our own sense of inadequacy and experience of anxiety. @MHChat #MHChat

@MHChat #mhchat About 15 years ago I had a friend who was a retired head teacher. Aware of my deprived background. She introduced me to the piano and I learned how to play in a short period. Her snobbery and rejection was palpable.

@doepublic Great point about sharing the journey and engagement. @MHChat #MHChat

@MHChat A2 Art can start a conversation and be the trigger for contact with environment and people. Sharing the journey can be a work of art in itself. #MHChat Genuine engagement helps us all.