#werisela

[stefunnysworld]

[impermanent-art]

Mural by Itsaliving at We Rise L.A.

[justinkemerling]

Gallery tour of WE RISE LA. #youarenotalone #mentalhealthawareness #werisela (at We Rise Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxsywmDhqpC/?igshid=u3c31qnj6mn7

[arianaguru]

Mental Health: Why We Need To Do Better

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Growing up, I remember reading that on a poster on the wall of my doctor’s office. From childhood, we are reminded to eat our veggies and drink our milk so we can grow up strong and healthy but rarely were we taught methods of keeping our mental health in check. The recent suicides of fashion designer Kate Spade and travel chef Anthony Bourdain remind us that mental health problems can affect anyone. Over 90% of those who die by suicide have underlying mental illness.

 A pop up art show in the heart of Downtown LA, hopes to put an end to the stigma attached to discussing mental health. WeRise LA has over 150 original works of art that defy old assumptions about mental health care and shed light on what we can do to make sure we all have the access needed to cultivate our best selves. In America, over 43 million adults experience mental illness any given year but more than half don’t receive treatment due to lack of access. The big issue with the mental health care system in this country is that treatment is usually available after the problem has worsened to the point of intervention.

 Reforming the American mental health care system is not a change that occurs overnight. But our attitudes toward achieving wellness can be. Because none of us are well, until we are all well. WeRise LA offers a view into the underlying problem with suicide. As much as we would like to believe mental health is a personal problem, we live in world that people don’t want to live in anymore. That needs to change. That change starts by cultivating one’s own sense of purpose and being an ally to those around us. We have to be the change we want to see.

 I spoke with film producer and close friend of mine, Marissa Garcia, about what WeRise LA meant for her. “Walking in [to WeRise LA] I was a whole different person than I was walking out,” she said. “I took away a lot of information. A lot about myself, just looking at the pieces and how they reflected in my life.” That’s just one person’s account of how art is therapeutic but walking around the gallery, I felt a sense of community. People from different ages, races and backgrounds were all brought together to share this experience because we all believe in the right to be well. Collectively, we see the problem before us and are all committed towards making access and affordable treatment a reality.

 If there is one thing that we need to take away from the conversation surrounding mental health is that we need to do better. We need to be active participants in our own healing process and reach out in times of darkness. We need to care about each other enough to be beacons of light to those in the darkness because we are not well unless we are all well. These small efforts at reforming American mental health care may seem in vain but these small changes within us are already sparking movements. The WeRise LA website offers 15 causes that align with the message of community wellness the art show perpetuates. Many don’t know the best way to take action, so it’s essential we begin with ourselves in order to make sure we are strong enough to continue the fight towards making mental health a civil right.  

[yashibrown]

Here with the talented hip-hop guru @common and acclaimed activist @peaceGina. All I can say is yesterday was insane and I’ve had happy insanity and bliss. Trust… They’re close cousins! 😜 #werisela #whywerise #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthwarrior (at Downtown LA)

[punkrockzen]

United We Rise!!!!! Our diversity makes us strong Our diversity allows us to see things from different perspectives Listen to each other Learn from each other Embrace our differences as well as all that we have in common. i think... . . . . . #unity #allone #resist #rebels #rebelart #seldog #punkrockzen #werisela #yourmommalovesmypost (at North Hollywood, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgYwyaJb9H/?igshid=19m12338gqjv2

[laartparty]

@werise_la @gabegault @werisela #werisela #WhyWeRise #LACDMH #CountyOfLA #lacounty  #losangeles #downtownla #dtla #artsdistrictla #laartsdistrict #arts #mentalhealthmonth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mayismentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealth #wellbeing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx8rFT1F7kz/?igshid=1bond0bpbmrd2

[stefunnysworld]

This one has to be one of the top three I really like!!!!

[telenovelagypsyalex]

Enjoy The Weekend Everyone! 💞🧚🏼‍♀️ #52listsforhappiness #anthropologie #anthropologiehome #saludmental #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #bipolardepression #bipolarawareness #anxiety #selenagomez #britneyspears #kurtcobain #ptsd #ptsdawareness #werise #fearalex #authentic #authenticallyalex #werisela #happinessquotes #happiness #feliz #mexicana #mexican (at Sherwood Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxnzs_Fh4K2/?igshid=1kyhd749fzii4

[tripsfestival]

Wise words at We Rise LA. (🎨: Jess X, Snow, Layqa Nina Yawar, and Tani Ikeda, Survivor Love Letters, 2017.)

[cindy-chu]

This Is Me 🚶🏻‍♀️ Doing My Best 🙌🏽 💖 🙏🏽 #werisela #madewell (at Majordomo)

[devine-chanel]

#werisela The Mother & The Motha (at We Rise Los Angeles)

[byraymondarturo]

Chadwick Anderson • On the Go Figure 1, 2018 • On the Go Figure 2, 2018 • #WeRiseLA (at We Rise Los Angeles)

[joycelynnrose]

I said to Father, “In what world does a man (who was most definitely under the influence with his windows up and music blasting, falling out of consciousness) come to a stop right in front of the church parking lot entrance (car still in drive, foot on brake, head dropped down) just as we were all walking out of mass? In what world?” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ To which Father replied, “Mine. Ours.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ By the grace of God. What are the odds? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Today, I got to help a man. Potentially saved his life. But how easy it could have been to have not helped, to have walked away, to have just passed it off. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One person can make the difference and sometimes we are the difference. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In today’s homily Father talked about the ascension and how the men of Galilee spent so much time looking at the sky in awe after Jesus rose. But we were reminded today that God doesn’t solely exist in the sky — He exists among us and He exists within us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We can be the vessel of love and compassion that we seek. We have the ability to be the source of light and goodness, and it’s up to us to share that light with others.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I just wanted pass on this little love note that I learned today: to stay present, to stay open, and to try our best to not turn away. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And lastly, to breathe. Just keep breathing. Even when all the anxiety floods in and you feel like you can’t find your bearings. Breathe. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am so grateful that my life experiences allowed me to recognize someone going through a deep anxiety attack and being able to calm him down and coach him as we took deep breaths together until the paramedics arrived. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ *deep inhale, deep exhale* By Gods Grace. In what world? Mine. Ours. Just keep breathing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • • • • 📸: @lillevenny (TB: WeRiseLA) (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByPGerSlEFd/?igshid=jbrqwpyhv2z8

[artabovereality]

“If there's a storm that's brewin', it won't keep us from doin', Our thing, as we start swingin', travellin' is bringin'. Joy inside the domes as we hit the road to roam, A chair is not a chair, a house is not a home. Because my skin is brown, yo, I'm gonna do the town. Rub it in the face, and rub my feet all through the place. When you get your finger on the music, it'll linger. Sing a song o' sixpence, sing it like a singer. A Nubian, a Nubian, a proud one at that, Remember me? The brother who said, 'black is black'. You can come by request, I don't play, I don't dress. Get emotions off your chest, we are black, we the best. Makin' moves, makin' motions, flowin' like an ocean. The walkin' will continue, we know that we will bring you. The times that you have waited, more anticipated, Be gone, but not for long, because the feet will stay strong.” - @qtiptheabstract #ATribeCalledQuest • My brother @_showzart_ showed up and showed out with this piece at the @werise_la event this past couple weeks. One of my favorites from the show for its detail representation of the trials and tribulations of growing up black. The positive and the strength that goes into survival. Very powerful in the boldness of brown. • #ArtAboveReality #LookWhatArtFound #Inspiring #Art #Curator #ContemporaryArt #FineArt #ArtMarket #ContemporaryPainting #CollectArt #ContemporaryArtCollectors #LiveWithArt #ArtConsultant #ShotOniPhone #PartsOfPaintings #Galleries #ContemporaryArtist #Influencer #ArtistsOnInstagram #WeRiseLA (at We Rise Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBW4iTHXjk/?igshid=1ijb7fln70y4i

[stefunnysworld]