title: Art promoting mental health literacy and a positive attitude towards people with experience of mental illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exhibitions of art by people with experience of mental illness are increasingly being staged to improve awareness of mental health issues in the general community and to counter the stigma of mental illness. However, few exhibitions have incorporated research to ascertain their actual effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper reports the results of a study that considered the responses of 10,000 people after they viewed exhibitions of art produced by people with experience of mental illness. These works were selected from the Cunningham Dax Collection, one of the world's most extensive collection of artworks by people with experience of mental illness and/or psychological trauma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 90% of respondents agreed with three propositions that the exhibitions helped them: (1) gain a better understanding of mental illness; (2) gain a more sympathetic understanding of the suffering of people with mental illness; and (3) appreciate the ability and creativity of people with mental illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that exhibitions can successfully promote mental health literacy and contribute to positive attitudes towards people with experience of mental illness. This paper explores these findings and raises questions about how the presentation of artworks in an exhibition influences their effectiveness in mental health promotion.
authors: 1The Dax Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Eugen
authors: E
authors: Koh
authors: Bradley
authors: B
authors: Shrimpton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001154:Art; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003405:Creativity; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Art; mental health literacy; mental health promotion; mental illness; stigma