Jenn talks to Leslie Chihuly and McLean Hospital’s Eriana Kirwin about the relationship between mental health and the arts. Leslie and Eriana highlight ways that creativity can benefit our mental state, share how to express ourselves in an emotionally helpful way, provide first-hand experience as to how art has been beneficial both for themselves and their loved ones, and answer questions on how we can all do our part to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
Leslie Jackson Chihuly is an American arts executive and philanthropist with a focus on democratizing access to the arts and ensuring ongoing viability for artists and arts organizations. She is the president and chief executive officer of Chihuly Studio and Chihuly Workshop, both of which support the artistic vision of her husband and partner, Dale Chihuly. In 2018, Leslie was inducted into the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in recognition of her extraordinary achievements in the arts.
Eriana Kirwin, OTD, is an occupational therapist at McLean’s Pathways Academy. Pathways Academy is a year-round, therapeutic day school developed to meet the social, sensory, psychological, and educational needs of children and adolescents ages 6 through 22 with autism spectrum disorders.
RELEVANT CONTENT:
– More about the episode: mclean.link/vaa
– Read the episode transcript: mclean.link/gt0
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The McLean Hospital podcast Mindful Things is intended to provide general information and to help listeners learn about mental health, educational opportunities, and research initiatives. This podcast is not an attempt to practice medicine or to provide specific medical advice.
