LIHU‘E — The banner at the far corner of the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery Saturday said it all. “We had each of the Friendship House members create a fish,” a gallery sitter said. “And if you look at it,
LIHU‘E — The banner at the far corner of the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery Saturday said it all.
“We had each of the Friendship House members create a fish,” a gallery sitter said. “And if you look at it, they’re all swimming upstream toward one common goal — hope.”
The banner was not pre-planned, it simply turned out that way when each of the Friendship House artists completed their respective creation, the resulting collage of fish representing the variety and diversity of the clubhouse membership all swimming in one direction.
That banner was part of the “Awareness Through Art” exhibit that was part of the Mental Health Fair coordinated through the efforts of Friendship House as part of May being celebrated as National Mental Health Awareness Month.
The program was opened by The Friendlies, a musical ensemble comprised of Friendship House members and staff.
“The awesome thing about these combined events is the increased awareness in our community regarding mental illness and bringing all of these agencies together in one place to share with the community,” said Dave Jordan, the vocational coordinator for Friendship House. “It is also a great thing to show off the talents of our members in a class act art exhibit.”
More than 30 representatives of different agencies on Kaua‘i that work with mental health turned out to distribute information and chat with shoppers and members.
Friendship House, the first clubhouse started in Hawai‘i, was established in 1988 to provide an alternative model for serving those with a mental illness.
It offers members employment, self reliance and a sense of responsibility and purpose, an online source says.
“If I didn’t have the Friendship House to go to, I would still be isolating myself,” said Becky, a Friendship House member, in a release. “I have made many friends here and there would be a large gap in my life if I didn’t have this place to come to. I have meaningful work and relationships when I come here.”
Friendship House is a voluntary program whose participants are called “members,” instead of patients or clients. Each member’s strengths and needs are emphasized rather than their mental illness, symptoms or psychiatric history.
Everyone is wanted and valued at the clubhouse and Friendship House relies on the talent, skills and abilities its members to function.
The event was just one of three planned by the different programs dealing with mental health in the community.
Earlier in the month, a sign-waving rally in front of the Historic County Building brought attention to mental health. This was followed by the Saturday gathering of professionals and agencies involved in mental health programs. The month wraps up with the “Our Health Is In Our Hands” forum from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 27 at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club.
Angela Correale, a psychology doctor, said the forum is being coordinated by the Kaua‘i Service Area Board on Mental Health and Substance Abuse and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The forum is funded through a federal grant through the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant – Uluakupa Award Community Grants Program.
Correale said seating is limited and a complimentary lunch will be provided to people who register before Friday.
Michael Ratcliffe, president and managing attorney for the Seniors Law Program, and Ronald Honberg, JD, the national director for policy and legal affairs for the NAMI, will be the keynote speakers at the forum, focusing on psychiatric and health advance care directives.
For more information or to register, contact Correale at 645-7066, or e-mail angela.correale@doh.hawaii.gov.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
