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In a time when then nation faced its highest suicide rate in 20 years, Singapore Association for Mental Health embarked on a pilot program to use Generative Art as an outlet for therapy. For unlike physical ailments, mental disorders are unseen and hard to describe literally. It is however much easier to paint a picture on how it feels.

So we trialed the program with 8 participants diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Anxiety Disorder, Manic Depression, and other mental disorders to use Generative Art as a means to express their feelings and visualise their struggles. In turn culminating in their own art exhibition in an attempt to raise mental health literacy publicly over World Mental Health month. Which garnered coverage across all national media, live radio interviews, and unlocked further educational opportunities with important stakeholders like educators from Ministry of Education, and other tertiary institutions.

The avenue to express struggles artfully also resulted in further destigmatisation on the recovery process. For example, from the eight pilot participants, one began the program with a request for anonymity. She ended having the courage to go live on National Radio. For the youngest participant at only 14 years of age, his father who was still in denial and skeptical over his condition, found closure and acceptance, which resulted in a better support system for the journey ahead.