A Girl With a Mexican Hat, One Shoe, and a Boogie Board’ is an arts health guide book, sharing Carissa Belham’s story and, a focus on how using art and creativity assists recovery and maintenance of mental wellbeing. This book is Carissa’s way to help other Australian families and the community deepen their awareness and understanding of life with a mental illness diagnosis, particularly bipolar.
From the Author, Carissa:
“I’m Carissa (Risso) a passionate artist living on the Sunshine Coast. I was aged 25 when I was diagnosed with bipolar. Although it was a relief to my parents to hear this sitting next to me, they finally had some answers and something to work from. I rolled my eyes and immediately stormed out of the psychiatrist's office, headed to the car, and balled my eyes out in despair. The diagnosis for me, was yet another thing in my life to deal with, another struggle. I’d had enough. I was at breaking point, not able to comprehend how I could possibly work harder to overcome this ongoing adversity!
My art practice saved me. The following years it became my safe space. When I am left to create, I feel a sense of achievement - I feel stable, accomplished, and fulfilled. Studies have proven the benefit of art positively impacting mental health. Now I incorporate it as a regular habit, as a preventative not only when facing struggles. For me, it is a daily habit assisting a positive component to wellbeing – like brushing your teeth.”