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Photo competition has power to heal
20 February 2009
If you are into photography and can create an image that calms the mind and soothes the soul, then Hunter New England Mental Health would love to hear from you.
Healing Mindscapes is a digital photographic competition being run in the lead-up to the opening in June of the region’s new Mental Health Centre.
Acute mental health services are moving in mid-June from James Fletcher Hospital to the new Mental Health Centre, which is being co-located with Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital on the existing Mater* campus at Waratah.
Competition organiser and Hunter New England Health’s Project Manager for the Mater Redevelopment, Kath Schelling, said winning entries and selected images from the competition would ultimately adorn the walls of the new acute mental health centre.
“The community, mental health clients, carers, friends, students and Hunter New England Health staff are invited to enter the digital photographic competition and send in their special images for consideration,” said Ms Schelling.
Entries close on Sunday, 15 March 2009. Competition details and an entry form are available online at www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/mental_health/healing_mindscapes
Ms Schelling said research had shown that psychologically appropriate art could substantially affect outcomes such a blood pressure, anxiety, intake of pain medication, and length of stay in hospital.
“In particular, art that depicts nature has been shown to have beneficial effects on patients experiencing stress and anxiety,” she said.
“We are looking for digital images that calm, distract, engage and soothe.
“A selection of the special photographs will be exhibited at the John Hunter Hospital/Royal Newcastle Centre and will eventually be housed in the new Mental Health Centre.
“But it is more than just pictures at an exhibition. Those images will have the potential to have a real and ongoing positive effect for our patients.”
Healing Mindscapes will also help commemorate the relocation of acute mental health services from James Fletcher Hospital to the Mater campus in mid 2009.
“From June 2009, the new-look Mater* will comprise two hospitals on the one location,” Ms Schelling said.
“It will provide improved services for mental health patients who will have the benefit of a new, modern, purpose-built facility.
“Patients will have direct access to other general and specialist medical and health services offered by the Calvary Mater Newcastle, such as the emergency department and complementary services such as toxicology and drug and alcohol services.”
Note to media:
* The Mater includes:
The redevelopment of the 204-bed Calvary Mater Newcastle, including an $18-million expansion of cancer radiation therapy facilities. It is owned and operated by Little Company of Mary Health Care.
The construction of a new 100-bed acute mental health facility on the Mater (including 10 additional acute mental health beds) to replace the existing facilities at James Fletcher Hospital. It is managed by Hunter New England Health.
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216
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