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City of Rockingham community mural to ‘reframe’ path to better mental health

Hannah CrossSound Telegraph
The Re[Frame] mural at McLarty Hall aims to spark new conversations about coping with mental health.
Camera IconThe Re[Frame] mural at McLarty Hall aims to spark new conversations about coping with mental health. Credit: Kingsley Klau

A mural intended to further the conversation around mental illness has been officially unveiled by the City of Rockingham.

The Re[Frame] mural at McLarty Hall in Shoalwater is inspired by people with lived experience and depicts the strategies people use to better their mental health.

Art therapist Paul K. Davis facilitated two community consultation workshops with local residents to draw out themes for the mural. Artist Carol Clitheroe then developed the design and delivery of the artwork.

Visitors to the mural can scan a QR code on-site and access information on a range of community support services available on the city’s website via rockingham.wa.gov.au/communitysupport.

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About 14 per cent of people in the city are impacted by mental illness.

Community participant Sylvia Stonehouse said she became involved with the project as a way to meet new people while combatting community assumptions.

“When I suffered PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) through some unfortunate circumstances, I thought this is going to be a good way to go out, meet some other people in a safe environment, do some art which I love, and it’s going to be helping the general community to understand that mental illness is not something to be ashamed of,” Ms Stonehouse said.

“Anybody can suffer mental illness. Anybody.”

Mayor Deb Hamblin said the mural aimed to ‘reframe’ the conversation around mental ill-health.

“The Re[Frame] mental health public art mural was born out of the community’s desire to acknowledge mental health issues,” Ms Hamblin said.

“The input provided by people with lived experience of mental illness and/or suicide loss has been integral to the delivery of the project and the city gratefully thanks them for the courage they’ve shown to be involved.”

She hoped the artwork resonated with community members and could help people find new strategies for coping with mental ill-health.

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