MORE than 100 of the Island's secondary school pupils have been involved in an art exhibition which will depict positive mental health.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service's (CAMHS) Big Picture exhibition will be opened by the chairman of the The Ballamona Association for Mental Health, George Waft, on on September 22 at the Noble's Hospital foyer.

The exhibition is the culmination of collaborative work between the Department of Social Care, the Department of Education, Ballamona Association for Mental Health, local artist Kate Jerry, the Department of Health and the schoolchildren.

Young people across the Island have created art themes such as 'new beginning', 'just like me' and a 'positive change'.

Member for Social Services Bill Malarkey said: "This project has also enabled the Mental Health Service to work with all the secondary schools to promote the services that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service provide, as well as raising awareness of childhood mental health problems.

"The result of this collaborative process is that the young people have produced diverse and expressive pieces of art to depict positive mental health.

"Following on from this exhibition 20 pieces of artwork will be placed on the external and internal walls of the CAMHS building and for years to come children and young people visiting CAMHS will benefit from the positive images and art work.

"The Mental Health Service is extremely grateful to the association and the trustees for their ongoing support and generous funding without which this project would not have been achievable."

CAMHS provides an Island wide mental health service to young people up to the age of 16 and their families.