The Arts Support Healing During National Mental Health Awareness Month

By Debbie Hall

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, observed annually since 1949 to reduce stigma, educate the public, and promote support for mental wellness. Founded by Mental Health America, the month features campaigns to highlight that 1 in 5 adults live with a mental health condition.

Southern Nevada's  MHS Behavioral Services and  Restorative Behavioral Health LLC  are collaborating on free and low-cost events for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, including hiking, yoga, aromatherapy and sound bowl events, a perimenopause and menopause education event, a men's mental health support group, and parent training/support groups for families with autistic children. 

For those working in the creative economy, this is a tumultuous time in our history, marked by inflation, funding cuts, and other concerns. However, mental health affects everyone, and art is one tool to help.

Dinisha Mingo, M.S., M.A., owner of MHS Behavioral Services and Brittney Collins-Jefferson, LCSW, CEO and founder of Restorative Behavioral Health LLC, are collaborating with Mingo Health Solutions to create a new attitude and environment about mental health. Their philosophy is that mental health is about more than traditional therapy, community is a vital bridge, and that a stigma persists in getting mental health help.

They are hosting Own YOUR Story – A Youth Experience: Youth Wellness Summit on May 16 for those ages 12–18 navigating challenges, as well as those ready to support peers for an opportunity for growth, mentorship, and real-life tools.

This interactive summit brings together youth, mentors, and community leaders for a day of personal growth, leadership development, and real-life skill building. Attendees can expect a high-energy environment focused on connection, inspiration, and practical tools to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.

There will be food, music, activities, giveaways and prizes. The event will be held at the College of Southern Nevada, Charleston Campus, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with the summit held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more info, call (702) 445-6937 or click here. The event is free to the public.

For art classes, they partnered with Anthem Insurance, which sponsored 12 weeks of art classes, including Paint with Angelique. Along with painting, other art activities included pottery, therapeutic art activities, and a coloring book created by Mingo Health Services. Art classes will be scheduled in the future.

“Art is really so therapeutic and good for your brain and your body that you don't even have to think about. That's why utilizing something like the art class is important. In terms of both of the organizations, part of why we hold community events is because we know that accessing mental health services is still something that's stigmatized,” explained Mingo. “We look at our services as a part of that support system. And hosting community events encourages people to continue building their support systems. We're just one leg of it.”

“The Sound Bowls, it's a healing instrument, essentially. We use those in order to provide that sound, to help people to really relax, destress, rest, and restore themselves,” said Collins-Jefferson. “The way that it works is that it's music. We use the bowls to provide that. It's a little different from music with actual words. So most of the time when we're listening to music on the radio, there are lyrics. What people can take away from that meditation type with the bowls is the sound and the rhythm. It gives people a different opportunity to connect with themselves, rather than trying to connect with the words in the sound.”

“This is similar to the art that helps you tap into your senses. Britteny tapped into meditation and its mindfulness. When we're coloring or when we're doing art, we are focusing, and this is effective according to scientific research,” added Mingo.

Mingo and Collins-Jefferson met in the same biology class at age 15 and became best friends that year. They even attended homecoming together. When their parents met, they realized they had known each other in high school.

Both majored in law but drifted apart due to time, distance, and life changes. They would reconnect at a mental health conference and start working together, partnering in 2019.

It has been seven years in the making, each bringing its own specialties, combined in spirit for the best outcome for the community of Nevada.

As the co-founder of Mingo Health Solutions (established 2016) and the nonprofit Solutions of Change (501(c)(3), Mingo has championed accessible, high-quality services for trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, autism, and other challenges. The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary with impactful community events, including the Being the Change Awards, which honored community leaders for advancing mental health resources. 

As founder of Restorative Behavioral Health LLC, Collins-Jefferson helps all communities with holistic health, nutrition and fitness improvement, spiritual healing, mental health disorders, attention disorders, behavioral disorders, substance use conditions, relationship/family concerns, trauma, esteem building, crisis intervention, play counseling and gender/sexuality issues. 

For more info, visit mhsbehavioralservices.com.