Counseling Services seeking LSUS student art, literary work for mental health exhibit

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Counseling Services seeking LSUS student art, literary work for mental health exhibit

SHREVEPORT -- Combating mental health issues through creativity.

Counseling Services invites LSUS students to submit works of art/writing to display in the second annual Resilience Through Dark Times exhibit. The exhibit will depict how LSUS students displayed resilience in overcoming difficult life circumstances.

The deadline to submit a work, which could include stories, essays, poems, graphic design, paintings/drawings is Oct. 18 through this link.

"Resilience through Dark Times is a mental health campaign promoting suicide prevention and awareness, as well as creativity, resilience, and peer support," said Kendal Redel, director of counseling services at LSUS. "We believe creativity can be instrumental in helping manage and process difficult emotions and negative experiences while also fostering a sense of connectivity with others.

"With RTDT, the act of creating is resilience. Students are able to express themselves, impact others and practice healthy coping strategies along the way."

Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions as students will silently vote on the work that resonated with them most.

All submissions will be displayed on Oct. 30 on the third floor of Noel Memorial Library for attendees to view from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exhibit will live on the library's first floor throughout the month of November.

A music playlist is also being created for the exhibit and is accepting student submissions of songs that reflect the resilience theme.

Students are invited to create art at two "expression sessions" - one on Oct. 14 (11-1 p.m.) at Pilots Pointe Apartments and another Oct. 28 during a student organization meeting. All art supplies will be provided.

The library is setting up relaxation stations and other anxiety-reduction outlets for students who may be affected by the exhibit.

Redel said the exhibit wouldn't be possible without partnership with the library, which provides easels, display racks and relaxation stations as well as the space to host the exhibit.

In the RTDT exhibit's first year, LSUS face-to-face and virtual students submitted 47 works.

Virtual students can also view the exhibit through Zoom (PowerPoint presentation) on Oct. 30 or see examples of works via the Counseling Services Instagram Spotlight reels.

The exhibit is designed to better connect the LSUS community (both in-person and online) by starting discussions around depression and suicide awareness, fostering relationships between students and campus organizations.

Redel also wants to expand the idea of counseling beyond talk therapy to include creative outlets such as the ones included in the exhibit.

For more information, contact Kendal Redel at [email protected] or call Counseling Services at 318-797-5365.