Bright, colourful wall murals inspired by nature, healing, and Indigenous culture have been installed at Bluewater Health in Sarnia.
The four pieces are on display in the mental health inpatient unit, addictions services inpatient and outpatient units, as well as the children’s mental health outpatient waiting area.
Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services Donna Morreau said they wanted to create a more welcoming environment.
"Some of the feedback that we had was that the units were rather stark and clinical, really just paint on a wall," said Morreau.
"We created a space where we were hoping that the clients would feel welcomed and hopeful that it would start right from them getting off of the elevator coming for an appointment. On the third floor, the mental health and inpatient unit, we did more like a nature and relaxation theme. On the fourth floor, mental health outpatient services, we went with more like a spa soft feeling. In the children’s mental health outpatient waiting area it's related to nature and sports, kind of a nice child and adolescent theme."
The mural in the addictions outpatient services unit, was done in collaboration with local Indigenous artist, John Williams, from Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
Patient artwork sample from art therapy on mental health inpatient unit
The other three were commissioned pieces, made possible in part by a generous donation from Integral HR Solutions Inc.
Morreau said art, art therapy and nature play a key role in patient recovery.
"The art therapy focuses on replacing a negative coping technique with a positive one and we've experienced many patients seeing success in techniques learned through art and recreation therapy."
