East Antrim MP thanks artist for shining a light on mental health issues

Robyn Haslett, originally from the Carrickfergus area, explored the theme in her collection of paintings for ‘Masking It’ which was mounted at Arts for All, Cityside Retail Park.

Among those to attend the display of work by Robyn was East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Wilson said: “I congratulate Robyn Haslett from Ballycarry on the exhibition of her art which she completed for her degree at Ulster University and which she used to highlight the immensely important issue of mental health.

“Robyn was inspired to do so because of the mental health problems experienced by her boyfriend Ryan, who bravely told his story on video as background to the exhibition.

“All of the pictures featured people wearing masks, since that is how Ryan described the impact of his depression.”

The exhibition at the Belfast location, Mr Wilson added, was very well attended and showed how art can help to highlight poor mental health and give sufferers a way of communicating the impact of problems on their lives.

The DUP representative continued: “Northern Ireland has one of the highest incidences of mental health in the UK, a situation which has been worsened by the measures taken to respond to coronavirus, with lockdown, loneliness and fear induced by warnings of mass deaths, as well as the fact that many people have not been able to receive treatment in hospitals for serious health problems in hospitals other than Covid-19.

“This is now added too by the fear of unemployment as a result of the economic consequences of the government’s reaction to coronavirus.

“Not only does this problem need to be highlighted but resources must be made available to help support people out of the blackness of depression which mental health problems cause.”

--

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high-quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.