The Change I Want to See
The Change I Want to See is something about Mental health that I have experienced before. For all depression and anxiety, I use art to cope with myself and talk with people I trust.
More than 3 million Thais struggle with mental illness. (World Economic Forum, n.d.). While Thailand has made significant progress in addressing child and adolescent mental health, particularly in national policy and legislation as well as targeted responses in the health sector, the study notes that there are still significant gaps in addressing adolescent mental health, including an inadequate budget, limited coordination among different service sectors, a shortage of psychiatrists, and an underqualified workforce across all industries. (www.unicef.org, n.d.)
I interviewed a few people, and one is an art therapist from Thailand. She said she used to do an online Open Heart club, free of charge, accessible to the general public. If I want to do an art club or community, I need a plan and funds. There is a lot of it that must use hidden costs. According to research, through various creative pathways that specifically enlighten meaning and purpose and heighten positive feelings and involvement, art therapy aids individuals in achieving greater well-being. Wilkinson and Chilton (2013)
Wilkinson and Chilton (2013) also draw attention to the unique advantages of the art therapy process to produce mastery and flow, to improve mood, and to inspire, create, and illuminate meaning considering the paradigm shift towards positive psychology. Because vibrant societies depend on creativity
Another group of people that I interviewed created an event called ‘Feel (in) Space’. It’s a painting picnic workshop with live music in a park in Thailand. They created creative and relaxed vibes. In the art club group, they have been trained to ask questions about ‘What’s going on lately?’. All the questions, they supervise by the art therapist and counsellor. This event keeps the vibe to be positive and uses positive psychology to help.
Creating a safe space is something that Thai people need. Thailand lack of a space where we can talk and create art. The Change I Want to See is Destigmatize Mental Health/ Well-being in Thailand. I want to create More Open Art Club/Communities/Safe Spaces that everyone can join to do art and talk in Thailand. Not just people with mental health issues but everyone feels free to join without any conditions. I am returning to Thailand this July to work with this space, and it will likely be the prototype and intervention for my final project. I must contact more art therapists and psychologists to help with the knowledge and details. I need to interview more people about the space I want to make, and it can be just an exhibition in July where people create their art pieces, do whatever they want and talk in a group.
It sounds like a significant change and a big one. I will start with a small step, and this project can change my life and maybe someone’s life too.
ref.
Wilkinson, R.A. and Chilton, G. (2013). Positive Art Therapy: Linking Positive Psychology to Art Therapy Theory, Practice, and Research. Art Therapy, 30(1), pp.4–11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2013.757513.
World Economic Forum. (n.d.). What Thailand can teach us about mental health. [online] Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/mental-health-investment-thailand/.
www.unicef.org. (n.d.). Alarming poor mental health trend among children and adolescents in Thailand requires urgent investment in services. [online] Available at: https://www.unicef.org/thailand/press-releases/alarming-poor-mental-health-trend-among-children-and-adolescents-thailand-requires.