Mind Your Mind: Breaking the Stigma, Creatively
Storytellers joined forces with David Lawrence Centers to bring awareness to mental illness.
In observance of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Storytellers joined forces with David Lawrence Centers and several other community organizations like NAMI, the Collier Sherriff, Valerie's House, and others to bring awareness to the growing problem of mental illness in the community. Each organization specializes in some service that supports healthy minds, fostering a path to hope and healing.
We joined with voices across the nation to raise awareness about mental health, fight stigma and discrimination, offer resources, and connect people to treatment. Mind Your Mind Community Day provided resources, tips, and opportunities to bring hope and healing to many battling mental illness. In addition, local businesses and partners were recognized and honored for their service to DLC and the community.
Our devoted group of artists and musicians offered a drum circle, led by our own Chad Craig, and various hands-on visual arts projects like abstract, mixed media, a painting project that focused on trees, and we painted "Hope" rocks.
SCA Volunteer Team
(L to R: Chad Craig, Janet Eidem, WIlliam Saladino, Darlene Radel, Dr. Bill Barnett, Ulli Reinhold, Julie Becker, and Neil Fehr (ALexa Chiang and Ben Nottingham not pictured)
SCA President, Dr. Bill Barnett shares.
Storytellers Creative Arts has partnered with CEO Scott Burgess and David Lawrence Centers for more than seven years. Since 2015, SCA has brought the love and hope of Christ to countless men and women who battle addictions and mental illness. The Mind Your Mind Event was a successful day of art-making, drum circles, health and fitness, and numerous inspiring activities. We look forward to next year!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released the results of a survey on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on the mental health of children and adolescents, showing that more than 4 in 10 teenagers felt “sad or hopeless” and 1 in 5 contemplated taking their own lives.
According to the CDC study, more than 44% of students in the ninth through 12th grades experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, which was conducted during the first half of last year. It also found that 19.9% of youths seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9% attempted suicide during the pandemic lockdowns when many schools were closed in 2020.
Since 2015, Storytellers Creative Arts has brought hope and healing to over countless David Lawrence Center clients through a program that breaks through exteriors and goes right to the heart.
DLC CEO Scott Burgess shares,
"Storytellers brings a team of volunteers on Thursday nights, working with a group of men and women for four week cycles, using a variety of media, often in collaboration with the clients. Sometimes they paint or sculpt. Sometimes they read poetry or tell stories. Sometimes they use music. The program combines Christian faith and the arts to bring about healing. Storytellers is planting seeds of hope into the hearts of men and women at the David Lawrence Center who battle addictions and mental illness. SCA also works with the children and teen addiction and mental health programs. Storytellers Creative Arts is an extraordinary agent of healing for hundreds, if not thousands of individuals.
We are honored to be partnering with Storytellers serving those who come to us often in their darkest hours. Through holistic care, including expressive arts programs, we can help them find the light of hope needed to overcome the disease of addiction. Storytellers is planting seeds of hope into the lives of the broken at David Lawrence Centers.
Storytellers Creative Arts is an extraordinary agent of healing for hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals. We thank God for His handiwork, in and through Storytellers Creative Arts."
Chad Craig leading a Drum Circle
For more information, or to volunteer email: bill.barnett@scanaples.org or call (239) 287-7331.
HOPE AND HEALING THROUGH THE ARTS
Storytellers Creative Arts (SCA) is a Southwest Florida non-profit organization with a mission to lead people to saving faith in Jesus Christ, the One who transforms lives. SCA disciples and equips artists to accomplish the mission. SCA provides healing and nurturing outreach programs to touch the underprivileged. Programs include visual and performing arts, storytelling, and music. SCA partners with Youth Haven, David Lawrence Center Crossroads Adult Recovery, New Horizons After-School Clubs of SWFL, Pathways Early Education in Immokalee, and other organizations.
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