Mental Health Awareness Month: Art Tells Stories When Words Aren’t Always Readily Available.
In conversation: Shirley-Ann O’Neill, Director at the VAA speaks with artist, Steve Randall about the role of artists in supporting mental health awareness and the importance of storytelling. Randall’s work has previously been exhibited in the National Walker Art Gallery in the UK and he has raised over £30,000 for local charities.
Steve Randall is currently the artist in residence at Aintree Hospital, where many of his works are created. As Mental Health Awareness Week is upon us, we invited Steve to an interview to discuss the unique opportunity artists have in promoting mental health awareness and healing through our creative expressions. This year’s theme is anxiety, and artists can use our skills to help destigmatize mental health and promote positive and empathetic conversations.
“I feel we can use our art to explore and express our emotions; creating inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and encourage open conversations about mental health.“
VAA: Thank you for joining us, Steve. You have recently been working on a new collection around Mental Health Awareness, which is a big departure from your usual style of work. Did you intentionally set to create the works to promote open discussion and dialogue about mental health?
Randall: To be honest, I started to create this collection of paintings as a way of processing my own life and sharing my own experiences. I am inspired by artists who talk openly about mental health by creating works that show empathy, vulnerability and understanding. It’s what connects us together. I feel we can use our art to explore and express our emotions; creating inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and encourage open conversations about mental health.
VAA: So you feel that artists can have a wider role in healing through creative expression?
Randall: Personally, destigmatizing mental health is an important task for artists because it promotes a safe and supportive space for those living with mental health conditions. We can play a critical role in this by using our creativity to develop works that challenge negative stereotypes and instil a positive attitude towards mental health.
“My attempt at self-forgiveness for years of misplaced energy trying to rationalise things and a celebration of a beautiful soul.“
VAA: Would you agree then, that art is an important storytelling tool in Mental Health Awareness? Sometimes art can tell stories when words aren’t always readily available.
Randall: Yes, art is a powerful tool for storytelling and can be used to share experiences and help people understand what it’s like to live with mental health difficulties. Through our art, we can create a community that supports each other, where people can share their stories and feel heard and validated.
VAA: Your new collection is uplifting, and positively presents challenging mental health illnesses both sensitively and candidly. What inspired you to create this collection around Mental Health Awareness?
Randall: Living with my mum who was institutionalised only yards from my studio here in the hospital, was something we had to live with as a family over decades. We had to adapt to a chemically controlled version of my mum and as a young man, I lacked the emotional intelligence to fully comprehend. These works are a statement of intent. My attempt at self-forgiveness for years of misplaced energy trying to rationalise things and a celebration of a beautiful soul.
“Art is such a powerful tool in helping with anxiety.”
VAA: Your artworks also represent other family members too. Has this been cathartic in creating and piecing them together as a collection?
Randall: Absolutely. It’s been a priceless process of bringing light to the darkness. My life stories are relatable to many people and are not uncommon. Mental illness, including anxiety and dementia, can affect everyday life challenges. I want there to be a greater level of awareness and acceptance.
VAA: You are also active in teaching the benefits of art to younger audiences. Tell us more about this.
Randall: Art is such a powerful tool in helping with anxiety. I believe art can be a fun and different way to talk about or express emotion. I volunteer to do weekly art classes with 9-year-olds at my former school in Kirkby. It’s an area of deprivation, without funding for art classes like these. My childhood memories of the school are positive, so I feel passionate about giving back and doing what I can to help support the well-being of the next generation.
“That deep personal connection is the reason so much of my work stems from childhood experiences.“
VAA: What inspired you to become an artist later in life?
Randall: I was born in Walton in 1968 and my move into the creative world came late in life in 2016. Triggered by my wife’s diagnosis with a terminal illness, we reset our lives. Inspired by Canan, I embarked on a path that has led me to become a full-time professional artist. Art most certainly saved my mental health, and my wife whole heartily encouraged me in this regard.
My artistic development was influenced greatly by my own family. With my Grandfather being a shipwright and wrought iron sculptor and my mother an amateur cartoonist, I was exposed to art in various forms from a very young age. That deep personal connection is the reason so much of my work stems from childhood experiences.
VAA: Thank you, Steve.
Mental Health Awareness Month is a vital time for promoting mental health wellness, and as artists, we can have a significant role to play. As we take care of ourselves, we become better equipped to help others who may be struggling with mental health difficulties. Here are a few simple tips from the VAA for taking care of yourself:
- Take breaks – Ensure that you take time to rest, relax and recharge.
- Express your emotions – Use your art to express your emotions and create work that helps you process your thoughts and feelings.
- Connect with others – Connect with other artists or mental health support groups, and seek help when you need it.
- Engage in self-care – Make sure that you engage in self-care activities. Whether it’s making time for a walk like the artist Turner famously did, or others opt for. meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.