Gradlife

Jump to Comments

 

Written by guest blogger: Hamza Bin Taufique

On March 31^st, Grad Minds is hosting its annual conference at Hart House and the Isabel Bader Theatre. The conference – Open Minds 2015: Creativity and Mental Health – aims to create a forum for meaningful discussion about graduate student mental health on campus, with a specific focus on the intersection of arts, creativity, and expressing mental states. Open Minds 2015 will focus on how we can bring arts and creativity into the mental health conversations taking place on campus.

Open Minds 2015 will have two main components:

(1) A conference at Hart House (5pm – 9pm)

(2) Circus Berserkus – a cirque nouveau performance by the mental health social circus troupe, Talk To Youth Lately, a Look Up Theatre project at the Isabel Bader Theatre (9pm – 11pm).

The conference includes a keynote speech and discussion with and artist and member of the Creative Works Studio at St. Michael’s Hospital. The keynote address will be followed by a panel presentation and an interactive discussion between the panelists and the audience.

Students discussing the future of graduate student mental health at Open Minds 2014. Photo credit: Nash Turney (U of T alumni)

In addition to the keynote, the panelists for Open Minds 2015 include:

1. Dr. Allison Crawford – psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
2. Dr. Lee Bartel, Professor and Dean of Research at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. Dr. Bartel’s research interests include music therapy and music in human development.
3. Seema C., comedian and facilitator at the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (MDAO). Seema facilitates the comedic Laughing Like Crazy program at the MDAO.
4. Daniel Farb, peer support worker at MDAO and a graduate student at OISE. Daniel has used writing, poetry, and hip-hop music as modes of creative self-expression throughout his life.

Photo credit: Nash Turney (U of T alumni)

After a brief refreshment break accompanied by an art exhibit, conference participants will engage in multi-media audience-led group discussions.

The closing ceremonies of Open Minds 2015 will feature a spectacular cirque nouveau performance by the mental health social circus troupe, Talk to Youth Lately, a Look Up Theatre project at the Isabel Bader Theatre. Immerse yourself in a world of aerial acrobatics, stand-up comedy, and cirque nouveau artistry, in a compelling and evocative show focusing on themes central to mental health.

Everyone is welcome to attend Open Minds 2015! However, registration is required and can be accessed here. You MUST get separate tickets for the conference at Hart House (150 seats) and the circus show at the Bader Theatre (380 seats) in order to secure a spot at both events. So bring your friends to the circus and let us fill up the Isabel Bader Theatre for the spectacular circus performance! For more information, please visit www.openminds2015.com.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

We look forward to welcoming you all at Open Minds 2015 on March 31st! Register Today!