“…Art is just such a therapeutic way to deal with the daily stresses and anxieties of life…,” Vanessa explains.
“Mental Health is real. It is like the air we breathe,” says Lola. October 10 was celebrated as World Mental Health Day at the Londonderry Mall in Edmonton.
The theme for this year is invest in your mental health. Diversity TV Health and Wellness Commentator, Lola Olorunfemi, went to Londonderry Mall to check out the art works being sold to raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Lola spoke to Vanessa Julio, the Marketing Manager for Londonderry Mall and asked her why mental health and why use art to raise mental health awareness.
“Art has always been something that I’ve wanted to do along with the mall…. I was in talks with the Canadian Mental Health Association for a while. We were trying to figure out how we can do something to, you know, promote World Mental Health Day and just kind of make this a conversation that people can start talking about and let everyone know, that’s not a taboo subject, it affects so many people. We wanted to do it through art because we felt that art was the way that a lot of people cope with mental health issues daily…just from my own perspective, art is just such a therapeutic way to deal with the daily stresses and anxieties of life…,” Vanessa Julio shares with Diversity TV.
If you’re looking to donate and get involved with the Canadian Mental Health Association, this is a great way. All of these artworks on display at the Londonderry Mall are actually for sale. They’re on a bidding process. A scan on the bar code gets on the website to bid on these pieces. 50% of the money that’s raised goes back to the artist and 50% goes to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Lola summarizes the take home for everyone from the micro level to the macro level. Mental Health is real just like your financial health and your physical health is important to you. Invest in your mental health because that is the block that controls everything about you.
“Take care of your mental health. It’s real like the air you breathe. We need it all. Have a great day,” Lola.
