Art by adults dealing with mental illnesses was exhibited in conjunction with National Mental Health Month in May. Each artist participated in the Spectrum Social Club of Spectrum Human Services in Buffalo. The project was led by artist Molly Rich, who suffered a traumatic head injury that required six years of intensive recovery.
Works from this community art initiative were shown here in 1997, and the Burchfield Penney revisited this program five years later. The exhibition included paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures. It was sponsored by Spectrum Human Services with support from the Erie County Department of Mental Health. Education Corridor programs were sponsored for the year 2002 with a special grant from Franz T. Stone.
A panel discussion on mental health was held on May 4. Participants included Dr. Jeffrey Grace, clinical director of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center; Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, chair of the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse; Vicki McCarthy from Children and Family Support Services of the Mental Health Association; Michael Weiner, Erie County Commissioner of Mental Health; Dr. Howard Hitzell, executive director of the Lake Shore Behavioral Health; and James Rohl, program coordinator of the Break the Circle of Stigma organization. Charles Sabatino, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at Daemen College, was moderator.