A new movement has recently emerged in an attempt to bring conversation about mental health into everyday life. According to the World Health Organization, 20 percent of adolescents (ages ten through 19) live with a mental health condition. To address this issue, PHS’s Numina Gallery, in collaboration with the PHS Mental Health Coalition, plans to explore the teenage mind in their diverse art exhibition titled “Breaking the Chains Within.”

The exhibition was originally planned to open during break on March 23, but the recent coronavirus outbreak has caused the deadline for artwork submission to be pushed back to April 1. The showcase has gone virtual and will be up indefinitely as a resource on the MHC website.

The MHC proposed the original idea for the project and reached out to the Numina Gallery club. The Numina Gallery is a creative space dedicated to art exhibitions from PHS and beyond. Open to the public, these exhibits have helped preserve the community’s appreciation for art for over 20 years. On the other hand, the MHC is a newer club that focuses on spreading awareness about mental health issues around PHS and the Princeton community. Despite their differences, both clubs are working toward a similar goal of recognizing the importance of mental health with art as the medium and combining their separate club missions to create something that would benefit the community. Together, they worked to formalize a plan of action and organize the exhibition. 

Taarika Bala ’20, co-leader of the MHC, hopes to see a shift in the mindsets of students as a result of the exhibit, especially with regards to the pressure that stems from Princeton being an academically competitive town.

“I think the reason why PHS is so [academically demanding] is because of Princeton University [being so close]. It’s going to be hard to change the mindsets of the students because there’s a historic culture for PHS students [to aim high],” Bala said. “If we make resources available and talk about mental health issues and organize such events, people will put ideas together and actually discuss mental health issues, so there’s a conversation about it and people understand other people’s stories.”

The exhibit’s name, “Breaking the Chains Within,” symbolizes how those with mental health issues may feel as though they cannot push past restrictions on their own thoughts. The title communicates the idea that inner monologues and mental blocks become burdens and chain people within themselves. One of the students contributing artwork to the exhibition, Sarah DeCheser ’22 can see these ‘chains’ on herself and the people around her. 

“Growing up, I’ve definitely known a lot of people who have struggled with mental health — either family members or friends. I myself have struggled with [it] and that plays into my art. I use drawing and writing music to understand how I am feeling,” DeCheser said.

Nina Bergman ’20, co-leader of the MHC, believes that art in many cases serves as a means of communication between individuals. 

“I’m hoping that people walk away with a greater understanding of the different experiences that people have at our school, and also with a greater understanding that they’re not alone in experiencing a mental health issue,” said Bergman. “There are lots of different things that they can do to get treatment or even just talk to someone and feel that there’s less of a stigma about talking about it in the open. … I think art and literature can also be used as a way to make other people feel less alone because they know the emotions that they’re experiencing are not unique to them.”

Bala agrees with the notion that art bridges the gap between those with and without mental health conditions. She also noted the issues with social media, which limits transparency and often poses perfection as the standard. 

“Art helps you express yourself because very often in day-to-day life you don’t get to be yourself,” said Bala. “[On social media], you can post things, but you cannot express yourself completely. I think through art you can definitely do that. And you can also get the point across to others, about what is going on in school or with your life, even if it is anonymous.”

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