Written by Natalie Payan
NSU’s Department of Occupational Therapy has partnered with 9Muses, a program that provides mental health recovery and support through creative activities, to spread mental health awareness in the NSU community.
9Muses, a program of the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida, allows participants suffering from mental illness to create visual and performing arts like drawing, watercolor, jewelry making, among others. Now, they are displaying their artwork for purchase in the Steele Atrium of the Health Professions Division Building.
The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is sponsoring 9Muses artwork, and every sale goes directly to support the 9Muses program.
Carol Lambdin-Pattavina, assistant professor of Occupational Therapy, worked with 9Muses, SOTA and Stanley Wilson since last year to implement this, and she said this activity was an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of mental and overall health.
“I have a passion for advocating for those who are experiencing mental illness,” she explained. “We know that, from a national standpoint, mental illness is slowly but consistently cropping up on the radar as a major national concern.”
Other parties were also involved in getting the awareness out. Stanley Wilson, dean and associate professor of the College of Health Care Sciences, gave the approval to allow 9Muses to display their artwork in the atrium.
Wilson said that this activity will benefit students.
“It provides students with an opportunity to learn new skills,” he said. “It’s about exposing the general health care community in the health professions division to the work of individuals who are in the mental health areas.”
The art exhibit has been ongoing since January and currently displays paintings from a single client, Angelo, who was involved with 9Muses until his death in 2008. The artwork will change every six months.
Felix De Clercq, anesthesiology assistant graduate student, believes showcasing 9Muses artwork is important.
“Those people put their entire universe into those paintings — it’s like a window for us,” he said. “You can be connected to that person through their paintings, and it’s building a better society for tomorrow.”
SOTA president Kelly Hammond, occupational therapy graduate student, believes this activity will spark an interest in students’ minds.
“I definitely think this will open students’ eyes to a different side of health,” Hammond said. “I would recommend getting more involved with the community and helping people suffering from mental illness.”
Other students believe the paintings will start conversation.
“It’s good for people to be aware because there’s a mental health stigma in our society,” Jenna Kopec, freshman secondary English education said. “It can be inspiring because people usually associate diseases with stigmas.”
Claudia Montano, marriage and family therapy graduate student, said she believes this activity will increase mental health awareness.
“Sometimes you label the person, and there’s more than the label,” said Montano. “Art can get that awareness out and show that people with mental illness have a lot to offer, not just their condition.”
