Dear Ms. Thompson:
I was elated to read your article in The Gleaner recently! I am a trained art educator and art therapist living in the United States for the past 12 years. There in not a day that goes by where I don't read The Gleaner and The Jamaica Observer. I'm impelled to read of Jamaica and Jamaicans on a daily basis. I must keep a pulse on my heritage and country of birth!
Mentally ill
In recent years, I have read of art and music therapy being incorporated in institutions that deal with the mentally ill in Jamaica. I have done field work and internships in psychiatric facilities and have administered art therapy to mentally-ill patients. I too have seen modification in behaviour. I applaud Professor Freddie Hickling, his staff and Sheila Graham for their innovative practices in this field of expressive arts.
I have also observed that Jamaican teachers abroad (as well as at home) usually involve their culture in various content areas in their classrooms. Clearly, Prof. Hickling and others have brought about more awareness and are using it in specific problem areas to bring about change, which through a domino effect, over time will bring about major changes to the Jamaican society. This clearly is the primary objective of the concept of using culture as therapy!
Thank you, Ms. Thompson for bringing attention to this area of expressive arts.
- Normadelle Stern Whittle
Send questions and comments to our health specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth @gleanerjm.com. Unless otherwise indicated, letters and the specialists' responses are usually published.
