"Walk with Me”, a three-week art exhibition concluded last weekend with an open group discussion about the role of art in shedding light around mental health issues and the healing journey. During the closing event the audience and panel had engaging conversations about mental health in the community and how to open up about its subjects that are more likely to be left unspoken about.

The panel had different speakers namely; Fabiola U Rutamu an artist, Nicolas Gihana, a personal coach and self-development advisor, Dominique Uwase Alonga, an entrepreneur and lay counselor, Anna Mapendo a counseling psychologist and a life purpose coach and Alain P Sabineza, a writer and experiential artist with a focus on mental health.

Mapendo pointed out that a few people only go for counseling while others say that it is not affordable, however, the number of counselors keeps on increasing making it easier to pay them because their prices vary.

She continued that it is a problem of mentality because those same people buy clothes and other accessories but when it comes to counseling they think it is expensive forgetting how important their mental health really is.

Jemima Kakizi, an artist and curator of ‘Walk with Me’ noted that even though the fixed exhibition is closed, she hopes that people continue such healthy conversations about mental health in homes and with friends, as we work together towards collective healing and understanding more about mental health.

"Supporting each other and more importantly learning how to take care of ourselves is a key to finding solutions.”

During the first phase of the exhibition 10 artists who expressed their artworks through art installation, digital art, photography and paintings were Odile Uwera, Chel Teta, Ingride Mukundente, Fabiola U. Rutamu, Natacha Muziramakenga, Ines Ineza, Poupoutte, Christel Arras, Myriam Birara and Alice Kayibanda. The three-week exhibition that was held at L’ espace took place on January 7 to January 28.

From February to March the second phase of the exhibition will move across the country aiming at youth and learning centers with a goal of learning about mental health through art and how to walk together to support people going through depression. The phase welcomes mental health professionals, organisations and people who are interested in raising mental health issues.