The training “Colors of Connection” by Erasmus+ in Georgia ended in December. Participants discussed art therapy and its impact on mental health. Member of Ivano-Frankivsk FRI branch Angela Jus shared her impressions from this project with us.

How much did you know about the topic of mental health before the project? Have you ever had experience with art therapy or any other form of therapy?

I believe I had a fairly good understanding of mental health, as it’s something familiar to everyone. For example, I can positively influence my mental health through activities like taking walks. However, I didn’t have any experience with formal art therapy. Nevertheless, when I take a board, some paints, and go painting to the Vovchynets Mountains, it can be considered as a kind of art therapy for me. Additionally, I dance, which is as a form of art therapy in my life.

What was the atmosphere like within the team? Were all participants/organizers friendly?

The organizers were very friendly, and most participants were also very open, not all of them though. Some were more talkative, while others didn’t seem to be such. This is understandable, as everyone has their own communication needs. However, everyone was friendly. We had our own space in the basement where we played pool and spent time together during breaks in the program. This contributed a lot to the overall atmosphere of the event.

Did you have personal time between activities? How packed was the program?

The day was quite scheduled: we had a program after breakfast, a break after lunch, then another program session, followed by another break, and finally, a cultural evening. So, we had enough free time.

Could you please explain what “cultural evenings” are ?

Cultural evenings are themed evenings where each country participants prepared traditional food and shared some insights about their culture. We were the first to represent our country. We made varenyky in the kitchen and treated other participants to them. As another example, many were surprised to learn about the app Diia, the fact that we can use documents through apps.

Therapy is often associated with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Was this topic discussed during the project, and was there a need to share personal traumatic experiences?

In this case, art therapy wasn’t associated with PTSD at all, so this topic wasn’t brought up. The training focused on milder forms of mental health issues, such as negative emotions or stress. I was glad that art therapy was presented in the context of self-help in everyday life rather than addressing more serious problems that require consultation with therapists.

What type of connection did you establish with other participants, and was there a lack of fear in discussing such a vulnerable topic as mental health and trauma?

I made a very good connection, and I still communicate with some people. Cultural evenings and the informal atmosphere played an important role in this. Regarding trauma, we didn’t discuss it. It wasn’t scary to talk about mental health because everyone experiences negative emotions or fatigue, so it wasn’t something unique or shocking. We discussed feelings of overloading, those moments in life when you simply don’t feel like doing anything, or conversely, you feel like resting.

Was the material presented during the training useful?

The material was useful, not just in terms of information, but in terms of the practice I gained, which I can apply in the future. Of course, not all the practices suited me, as some appealed to me more than others. However, this material proved to be very useful and relevant to life.

How relevant is this topic now, and how could Ukrainians utilize this knowledge in everyday life?

This topic is relevant not only now but throughout life. Indeed, if Ukrainians had the knowledge I gained from this project, they could better cope with negative emotions, focus more on living in the moment, and maintain positivity, love, and energy. I believe this experience could ease the lives not only for Ukrainians but for people worldwide.

Were there any conflict situations during the project?

No, there were no conflict situations during the project. We always communicated and discussed any issues that arose.

Did this project meet your expectations and hopes?

This project definitely met my expectations. Can you even imagine going to another country without knowing what you want to see there? However, everything I received was very exciting and woke a lot of emotions in me, from huge happiness to moments when I felt tired of the program and endless English conversations. There was a day when we went on a trip together, and at the end of the day we shared our reflections. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who helped me with buying tickets, the country that hosted us, including everyone who cooked food and provided us with shelter. This was extremely important for a successful exchange. So, I am happy to have the opportunity to participate in this project.

By Oleksandra Yazdanfar