Maxine works on a painting which has been chosen to promote Rivendell’s Mental Health Week afternoon. 54570
By Kath Gannaway
MAXINE, a Healesville artist dealing with anxiety, says she is optimistic about her future.
Art and Rivendell are major influences in what she says has been a difficult path to walk.
Rivendell is a community support service in Healesville for people with mental health issues. On Friday, 15 October between noon and 3pm they will run a multi-faceted event as part of Mental Health Week.
As a participant of Rivendell’s arts therapy group, Maxine’s work will feature in an exhibition and sale of art which is part of that event.
As well there will be labyrinth walks, entertainment by the Rocky Road Choir and soup and Devonshire teas.
It is an opportunity for the wider community to get to know some of the issues for people with a mental health problem, and the support Rivendell offers.
Maxine is a staunch advocate for Rivendell which provides assistance in developing skills, knowledge and support networks for recovery.
“I’ve come a long way since coming here,” she says.
She has completed a food-handling course and a first-aid course, both giving her confidence and building her ability to return to the workforce.
“I am not young any more and when raising children, especially a child with a disability, you can’t go to work and you don’t get the experience employers are looking for.”
She now works at Fire and Clay in Lilydale, utilising her artistic talents. Art is her passion.
It is essentially about self-worth and realising potential.
“I was artistic as a child but never had the opportunity to do anything about it.
“I’ve had a lot of trauma in my life and I didn’t have a good childhood. This is helping me to find myself again.
“I am focused when I am doing art, which is a good thing for me as far as the anxiety is concerned. It goes away for a while,” Maxine said.
“I can’t fully explain what art does for me, but I could do it all day, every day,” she adds.
“It’s something I feel I need to do.”
Rivendell support worker Amy Dowsett said anxiety was one of the mental health conditions which was very poorly understood.
“While anxiety is one of the conditions which can be managed, the impact it can have on people’s lives should never be understated,” she says.
“Very often people have no understanding of how debilitating it can be.”
Maxine knows.
“It makes it very difficult to do certain things, to keep a job and interact with other people and you tend to isolate yourself,” she said.
Raising awareness of mental health issues in the broader community is one of the aims of the event at Healesville Memorial Hall from noon to 3pm.
“My message for people in the community, is that there must be many people out there, like I was for years, who didn’t have any idea there were places like this where you can get support,” Maxine said.
“I’m looking forward to Friday.”
