Three artworks now adorn walls, sidewalks and windows in the City of Kwinana to promote positive mental health messages.
A bright and uplifting mural was created outside the entrance to Gilmore College on the footpath, involving 50 students from the school, artist Brendan Lewis of Hope Perth, and Kwinana Youth Services Team staff from the City.
The sidewalk mural included positive wording, activities that promote mental wellbeing like music and sport, and popular bush critters including the College mascot, the crow or ‘wardong’ as it is known in Nyoongar language.
Shops in Orelia were given a splash of colour with a community mural overseen by Samantha Prentice of Beach Fence Murals.
The mural shows what positive mental health looks and feels like to the young people from The Zone Youth Space involved in the project through workshops.
Samantha Prentice also worked with students from SMYL Medina over seven weeks to decorate boards to be hung around the SMYL Community College on Meares Avenue, which will also go on display in the coming months across the City.
Mayor Carol Adams said the murals were funded through the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance grant of $100,000 for initiatives supporting youth mental health in the City last year.
“Supporting the mental wellbeing of our young people is vital work especially in the context of the recent pandemic,” Mayor Adams said.
“The projects and initiatives funding by WAPHA have helped increase a sense of belonging, increased mental health literacy and education and reduced the stigma around mental health.”
The grant included $60,000 for a community funding program which delivered programs and events by the close of 2022 in the Kwinana area, including a cultural camp and wellness days.
It was agreed that an allocation of $30,000 for a Youth Mental Health Advisory Council was redirected to create the Mental Health Awareness Art Series when it became apparent numbers to form an advisory council were insufficient.
“All young people who applied to be on the advisory council were involved in the art projects, and so many more were able to be involved in these permanent artworks,” Mayor Adams said.
The remaining $10,000 will be used to increase the skills of local organisations to support young people in their mental wellbeing.