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CiMH is currently looking to fill multiple positions within our organization. Details are available at cimh.org/careers

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CiMH/CMHDA Recovery Arts Program

All across California, people harness the healing power of the creative spirit – celebrating their cultures, challenging stigmas and stereotypes, working towards recovery one brushstroke at a time.

CiMH, in partnership with California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA), is proud to present this gallery of works from the Recovery Arts Program. This gallery, open to participants in county art-recovery programs across the state, showcases outstanding examples of art as a pathway to wellness. We invite you to explore both the art and the artists, by visiting the artists’ own Web sites where available.

The Painted Brain

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

 The Painted Brain is a peer-driven media and outreach campaign to help eradicate the stigma of mental illness. In a few short years, The Painted Brain has fostered a social movement of interconnected artists, writers and musicians with illness.  Its components include art and writing groups, a semi-annual magazine publication, and outreach to those affected by mental illness at conferences, schools and traditional mental health agencies.  Young adults who self-identify with mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression work alongside mental health professionals to run every aspect of the program. The peers lead the art and writing groups, design the magazine, speak  on behalf of the project at conferences, influence the direction of the project, and help to recruit new members. Our website is www.thepaintedbrain.org

Peer Recovery Art Project

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Peer Recovery Art Project Incorporated is an informally networked "street team" that promotes special events that offer community-based awareness, mutual aid, and support.  It is an art collaborative in which some of the contributing artists may have lived experience as mental health consumers. Their art may reflect that experience, but the emphasis is on respect of the art. There are dozens of people supporting and networking within the Art Project to end stigma. The project was founded and is driven by consumer activists who prefer to be known simply as artists.

Orange County MHSA Launches Newsletter, Gallery

Monday, October 20, 2008

The County of Orange Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) office recently launched several venues for persons in recovery to share their arts and writing.

Recovery Connections is a newsletter for persons in recovery and their family members to share their recovery success stories, perspectives, writings, art, and other creative projects. The newsletter is also a place to find out more about issues related to MHSA planning, program implementation and MHSA office activities.

MHSA Art Gallery Web site features art and writing created by persons in recovery and their family members. The MHSA office also recently published its first art calendar featuring art and writing created by persons in recovery.