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'We think of mental heath care as a human right,' Carter Center says this World Mental Health Day
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LISTEN: The arts can play a positive role in mental health and healing. As part of World Mental Health Day, the Carter Center is spotlighting the connection. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge has more.
Embracing the arts, whether dance, music or visual, is one way of promoting mental health and healing, Carter Center Mental Health Program Director Eve Byrd says.
For World Mental Health Day, the Carter Center is co-hosting an event Thursday at Emory University's Carlos Museum.
It's a call to action and education about how everybody can support mental wellness through their community, Byrd said.
"We think of mental health care as a human right," she said.
That's why the Center is collaborating with Healing Arts Atlanta and Thriving Together Atlanta.
After the Positively Creative Children and Mental Health event, attendees may celebrate the current exhibit at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum: Stand & Witness; Art in the Time of COVID-19.
The CDC Museum event from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday will include brief remarks from artists, activists and public health leaders about current and future artwork and public health initiatives taking place in Atlanta as well as an opportunity to view the exhibition.
"We're going to be highlighting a number of projects that are taking place in the state of Georgia, and then we're going to be providing some opportunities for people to participate and experience firsthand the impact or how they might feel after participating in arts activities, both music and collage making," Byrd said.
The General Assembly, in collaboration with Jameel Arts Lab and the World Health Organization, is embracing this movement as well, she said.
The WHO named Renee Fleming its director for arts and health. Fleming spent a lot of time in the science of music on the brain and well-being of individuals, Byrd said.
"So this is not just an Atlanta movement," Byrd said. "This is a global movement."
They have no plans to slow down, she said.
"This isn't a one and done," Byrd said. "We're really quite committed to remaining in this space and a part of this movement just because we believe it's beneficial to the whole community."