Out of pain comes creativity. That’s what second-year General Science student Jordan Bell proved when she decided to take her experiences with mental health and turn them into something beautiful and creative.
“I struggled with mental health for quite a while,” says Bell. “Artistic expression is something that really got me through that time. It is just such an important part of dealing with mental health—just talking about it, and turning it into creative projects and creative endeavours.”
Bell realized that her journey could be something that others could relate to so decided to reach out to people through organizing a talent show for the Camosun College Student Society MyWellness program. The talent show will take place on Wednesday, February 26 in Young 216; auditions and run-throughs are on Wednesday, February 5 from from 4:30 to 6:00.
“Creativity is just such a good way to get it out and connect,” says Bell. “We thought we could have a fun event where people see other people who are making art through whatever they’re dealing with.”
Bell says her own creative process was essential in her journey, and she wants to share that with other people.
“It’s so important to talk about it because everybody deals with it,” she says, “and the more that you can look over and see someone else handling it, the easier it is for you to handle it.”
Bell was able to channel her experience into her art, so she knows how the process can help healing.
“I am a singer/songwriter and I produce on the side, so I’ve done a couple albums,” says Bell. “It was what I had to do. With my anxiety it was a necessity.”
Bell is hoping that other people who have had similar struggles will want to share them in a creative way through the talent show.
“I think it will be a really fun event,” says Bell. “I also think it is very intimidating, getting up and performing. I think people often feel that they have to be really good at it in order to do it, but I really would love to get more people trying to do singing, or trying to do art, or trying something creative because it is just so important. It is just so cathartic in helping to deal with those emotions that are hard to deal with.”
Bell says she has an idea of what she is hoping will happen during the event (what she needs for now is more people to sign up to perform; email mywellnesscamosun@gmail.com if you’re interested in participating in the talent show).
“What I am envisioning—what I’m hoping—is that we’ll have people talk a little bit before they perform,” says Bell. “They might talk about how mental health affected them or someone in their life; they don’t necessarily have to deal with it themselves. I know not everybody would feel comfortable with that, but ideally we would all bring it up and do a performance together related to mental health.”
Bell has been trying for a while to think of a way that people who have struggled with mental health can connect with each other, and she really hopes that this event will be a way to do it.
“It would be a really good opportunity for people to see another side of it, and see what can be done despite having mental-health issues that people deal with, and even if it doesn’t go well, at least we will have gotten the word out there,” she says. “It’ll be a really fun opportunity to show what you can do, and maybe be inspired by other people who might be going through exactly that same thing that you are. So why not do it? It will be one night of your life.”