Discover Unanticipated Genius - Art and Mental Health

Austin State Hospital was established in 1857 as the Texas State Lunatic Asylum with the first 12 patients admitted in 1861. We've been here a long time, but we are far from stagnant! Today the Austin State Hospital (ASH) is a 290-bed inpatient facility serving over 4,400 children and adults each year.

In the past year, ASH has been shifting from a medical model to an empowerment model for mental heathcare. It hasn't been easy and we certainly haven't finished, but we have a map and some guides to help us. These guides include former patients who serve on committees at the hospital and serve as Peer Support Specialists for our current patients.

Our new mission is partnering to find solutions toward wellness. We recognize that a person's mental health is more than a biochemical state, it is rooted in community and a sense of self-worth and purpose. We have partnered with NAMI-Austin and SHAC (Self-Help Advocacy Center) to find ways to incorporate outpatient support systems into the inpatient environment.

How does art fit into all of this?

Art is often the way our patients can best communicate their feelings and thought. Thought disorders, such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, can cause a person to have difficulty making connections and communicating. This could be due to audio hallucinations, paranoia or an inability to screen out superflous connections. What cannot be said, can be painted or drawn or sculpted.

Because our patients often lack social supports, we see art as a way to bridge their transition from inpatient to outpatient. We are currently in process of soliciting donations for ARTS Space, an on-campus facility serving both inpatients, outpatients and the Austin arts community. The vision is a facility with studio space for not just visual artists, but for performing artists. The space would allow inpatients to spend more time on their artworks outside of the 45-minute art therapy sessions. It would also encourage participation by local artists by exchanging free studio use for their services working with patients. The space would include a gallery for exhibits, as well. We have the building, a budget and a group of volunteers (including an architect) who are devoted to making ARTS Space a reality by 2011.

BASH is a way to get our patients' art into the community and educate potential supporters about Austin State Hospital and the individuals we serve. Patient and professional art donated by artists who share our mission will be sold in a silent auction at the event. We still need sponsors and volunteers for the event.

More about the event can be found at www.ashbash.org

More about the hospital can be found at www.ashvolunteers.org