A brush withbetter health- Susan Adam is one of many Southern Health staff exhibiting art in the Southern Health Art Space. She is also holding a Mental Health art competition at the Dandenong Hospita

By Lia Bichel
ART lines the walls at Dandenong Hospital and other Southern Health facilities in an effort to create a calming healing environment.
Southern Health staff were asked to contribute some of their art to an exhibition at Clayton Medical Centre.
Southern Health art curator and arts program manager Rebecca Lovitt said the art program had a number if benefits for both patients and staff.
“Arts and the display of original artworks throughout our health service enhance and improve public spaces aesthetically while also playing an important role in creating an optimum healing environment,” she said.
“Our goal is to create a physical health environment that reflects Southern Health values, such as integrity, compassion, respect and excellence.”
Ms Lovitt said evidence-based research indicated that the arts could assist in creating a more relaxing environment where therapeutic benefits were passed on to patients and their families and carers.
“Research demonstrates that surroundings that contain less stress and divert attention from the health problem at hand, contribute to a swifter recovery and rehabilitation,” she said.
Susan Adam, senior family carer consultant at Dandenong Hospital, submitted a large acrylic landscape and two linocuts to the exhibition and was also organising the Southern Health Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Art Competition.
“Art is important,” she said.
“And the staff exhibitions allow workers to show what they can do apart from being a doctor, nurse, radiologist or family care consultant. And I have been blown away with the standard of art in the exhibitions.”
Ms Adam said she had always been interested in art, but only started taking it seriously three years ago.
“Art-making and other creative activities can do a great deal to assist people affected by mental illness,” she said.
“Art-making not only provides an outlet for the consumer but also for the carers and other involved people.”
Entries for the Mental Health art competition ended last week but are on exhibit at the Dandenong Hospital.
Viewing of the Southern Health – Arts in Health Program exhibition, refreshments and the announcement of the staff arts awards will be held in the Southern Health Art Space, at Monash Medical Centre Clayton tonight (Thursday).