Voices of Veterans Bringing wellbeing and community to Australian veterans
Created by artist and veteran Michael Armstrong
The decision to push ahead with a Royal Commission into veteran suicide has finally given voice to the concerns of veterans and their families. It highlights the current gap in understanding and awareness of mental health and the health cost to all Australians.
Voices of Veterans
Voices of Veterans is a veteran led project for veterans that aspires to raise awareness of the mental health crisis affecting Australian veterans and create action to support positive well being. It seeks to generate meaningful, ongoing positive change in the lives of Australian veterans. The project includes art exhibitions, art education workshops and sustainable art programs in veteran communities.
The catalyst for Voices of Veterans is a collection of quality photographic artworks that visually represent individual experiences of veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Each veteran has a story, and their stories are told, expressed, felt and heard through a challenging and rewarding creative process using molasses as a metaphor. The works show both sides of ones lived experience - the dark emotions of challenging moments and the light feelings of healing, release and hope.
The project was celebrated at a patron reception at Government House in April under the joint patronage of His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley.
Voices of Veterans art exhibition events act as a lightning rod for veteran and mental health awareness. They aim to build veteran communities and support suicide prevention. Creativity is a proven effective therapeutic method and diverse veteran communities are pivotal for good health and positive well being.
"A veteran who feels alone is a veteran at risk of suicide. Building communities of support and valued roles for our veterans is at the heart of the Voices of Veterans project" - Mike Armstrong.
Voices of Veterans aspires to humanise mental health and share personal stories of strength, bravery and hope. All participating veterans have been touched by PTSD in one way or another. And all have bravely agreed to share their stories, feelings and experiences to help others affected by PTSD.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.
You can help
Voices of Veterans is made possible with the help of passionate people and generous supporters.
Sponsorship and donations will enable the project and support veteran wellbeing. If you would like to support Voices of Veterans, please contact us. You will join a collective of passionate ambassadors, individuals and companies who are already supporting this worthy cause.
Canberra exhibition open now
The Voices of Veterans Canberra Art Exhibition is on display now at the National Press Club until 3 July 2022.
Visit by appointment only.
The complete collection is displayed and for sale alongside other valued works by Mike Armstrong.
The story
Creator of Voices of Veterans is Australian artist, army veteran and PTSD survivor, Michael (Mike) Armstrong. Mike started photographing veterans using molasses to explore their lived PTSD experience. The creative and expressive process allowed veterans to physically present their struggle and visually represent their battle.
"Molasses behaves in a manner that mirrors many of the symptoms of PTSD. Its weight and dark enveloping form, it's staining and sticky qualities mark everything it touches. The manner in which it mirrors qualities of light and dark around it. My models naturally resonated with the experience of working with molasses and found the medium profoundly evocative" - Mike Armstrong
The works resonated with the veterans deeply. Mike posted some on his social media and they reached a far broader audience than those living with and alongside PTSD. The posts created high levels of engagement and created many conversations. This sparked the need to create widespread awareness of Voices of Veterans, and the project was born.
The Voices of Veterans Fund
This video is a behind the scenes look into the heart of Voices of Veterans. We observe the experience of Veteran, Mick Cook as he works with Mike Armstrong to explore and express his experiences of living with a mental illness. This video was created by and in collaboration with veteran videographer, Kris Kerehona.
Our sponsors
Copyright © 2022 Michael Armstrong - All Rights Reserved.
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