Art can be a very useful tool for taking care of our mental health, as well as a means of expressing our most intense and profound emotions. This is demonstrated by the patients and users of the Mental Health Network of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura who, once again this year, are participating in the exhibition organized by the Nursing Association of Las Palmas on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.
The fourth edition of Art and Mental Health will remain open to the public until October 14th at the Pepe Dámaso Cultural Center, located at 51 Benecharo Street, in the La Isleta neighborhood of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It can be visited from Tuesday to Friday, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The exhibition was inaugurated this Thursday at a heartwarming event attended by the president of the Nursing Association of Las Palmas, Rita Mendoza; the general director of Mental Health and Addictions of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Gómez-Pomo; the manager of the Social and Healthcare Attention Institute (IAS) of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Ricardo Redondas; and the councilor of Social Welfare of the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carmen Luz Vargas, as well as a large representation of the artists themselves and their families.
The exhibition not only celebrates the artistic talent of its authors but also seeks to raise public awareness. It is an opportunity to reflect and support those facing mental challenges with courage and determination, individuals who, amidst adversity, have found spaces of beauty and creativity. Their works awaken empathy. They invite us to explore their inner world and realize the fragility of the human mind. They teach us to better understand, without stigmas or prejudices, the complex world of mental health.