piecemeal -  adv. piece by piece, part at a time
piecemeal aims to work with young people in the Armidale region (NSW), who are affected in some way by mental health issues, whether this is through direct personal experience or through witnessing a close friend, family member or relative experience mental illness, and/or are affected by issues around alcohol and other drugs (AOD). The arts will be used as a tool to encourage them to give expression to their experiences.
piecemeal will begin by working individually, one on one, with young people to create digital stories that are meaningful for them. One by one young people will be supported to explore their stories. Participants will work on first person, personal stories. Whether the stories are reflections on a particular event or a larger issue, the participants will be encouraged to reflect firsthand experience in the stories. Through this process we will help each person to find their own voice.
This project commenced in July 2009.
Objectives:
To provide one-on-one support to participants
To develop participants’ skills in producing digital stories
To provide an opportunity for participants to realise their own potential
To assist participants to develop a positive sense of self and strengthen connections with the community
To provide opportunities for young people to showcase their abilities to the community and for themselves
To increase ability to identify and respond to mental health and/or AOD issues
To increase participants’ use of support services for mental health and/or AOD issues
To develop leadership skills
To increase awareness and capacity about mental health and/or AOD issues among peers
To produce art products – individual digital stories, group digital stories, potentially either theatre piece / film / animation