title: Art and mental health in Samoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To pilot an art and mental health project with Samoan and Australian stakeholders. The aim of this project was to provide a voice through the medium of art for people experiencing mental illness, and to improve the public understanding in Samoa of mental illness and trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 12 months, a series of innovative workshops were held with Samoan and Australian stakeholders, followed by an art exhibition. These workshops developed strategies to support the promotion and understanding of mental health in Samoa. Key stakeholders from both art making and mental health services were engaged in activities to explore the possibility of collaboration in the Apia community.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The project was able to identify the existing resources and community support for the arts and mental health projects, to design a series of activities aimed to promote and maintain health in the community, and to pilot these programs with five key organizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project demonstrates the potential for art and mental health projects to contribute to both improving mental health and to lowering the personal and social costs of mental ill health for communities in Samoa.
authors.affiliation: Project Manager, Asia-Australia Mental Health, St. Vincents Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Brigid.ryan2@svha.org.au.
authors.forename: Brigid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Associate Director, Asia-Australia Mental Health, St. Vincents Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goding
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, MAT Course Coordinator, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fenner
authors.affiliation: Managing Trustee, Tiapapata Art Centre, Apia, Samoa.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Percival
authors.affiliation: Senior Art Teacher, Tiapapata Art Centre, Apia, Samoa.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Percival
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, National University of Samoa, Apia, Samoa.
authors.forename: Leua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Latai
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lisi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petaia
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Consultant, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Fuimaono Karl
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Pulotu-Endemann
authors.affiliation: Head of Unit, Mental Health Unit, Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, Apia, Samoa.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Registrar, Mental Health Unit, Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, Apia, Samoa.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tuitama
authors.affiliation: Healthscope Chair of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, and; Asia-Australia Mental Health, St. Vincent's Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Chee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D001154:Art; D003256:Community Participation; D004493:Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018947:Samoa
keywords: Samoa; art; art exhibition; community support; mental health; mental health promotion; mental illness; workshop