This project is connected to the South African Depression and Anxiety group;SADAG, which caters to the greater South African community as a much needed national resource to help in matters of mental health and to destigmatise mental illness. It has rural outreach programmes, teen suicide prevention, helplines, substance abuse education and mental health support groups.

1. 2016
MINDWORKS

2. MINDWORKS
This project is connected to the South African Depression and Anxiety
group;SADAG, which caters to the greater South African community as
a much needed national resource to help in matters of mental health
and to destigmatise mental illness. It has rural outreach programmes,
teen suicide prevention, helplines, substance abuse education and
mental health support groups.

3. THE BRIEF
This is the third year of
involvement and Graphic
Design students were tasked
to make mental profile
artworks that represented
mental health and their
understanding of it. These
would be used in the
campaign for Mental Health
Month and for educational
and awareness purposes.
Posters relating to teen
suicide and mental health in
general as well as information
graphics were also required.

4. THE BRIEF
Interior Design students were tasked to refine and
scale down the design for the outreach unit in
Diepsloot concentrating on the exterior space.

5. THE PROCESS
As an introduction to the project students were briefed by SADAG as
to their main requirements; namely posters on teen suicide and
mental health awareness posters, information graphics on teen
suicide, substance abuse and anxiety as well as the refinement of
the outreach unit in Diepsloot.
Students visited the SADAG call centre in Rivonia and the outreach
unit in Diepsloot to get a better understanding of the context of the
work that SADAG does in the community.
At the call centre in Rivonia the students interviewed the volunteers
and gained insight into the needs of the users and SADAG’s support
to the community. This was important in the design of the
information graphics and the mental profile artworks.

6. THE PROCESS
In addition students were instructed to
illustrate , document and journal their own
understanding of mental health issues.
In some respects students in the group were
themselves a community in this project.

7. THE OUTPUTS
MNNJ- tasked to make information graphics and posters on a
variety of mental health issues.
Mental Stealth- Students designed information graphics on teen
suicide.
Font Feeling-Designed posters using typographic handmade
sculptures to highlight the feelings and words that represent mental
health issues.
One Interior Design subgroup;
Space of Hope-Students designed a scaled down
exterior space that conveyed a sense of hope.
This concept included painted rocks communicating
messages of hope and a small flower sculpture
as well a small hanging garden. Plants and a tree
were planted to add an aesthetic and colourful
dimension to the space.
Three Sub groups;

8. THE OUTPUTS
MNNJ- tasked to make information graphics and
posteron a variety of mental health issues.
MNNJ
Posters on suicide for the elderly

9. THE OUTPUTS
Posters for Teen Suicide

10. THE OUTPUTS

11. THE OUTPUTS
Mental Health Awareness Posters
.

12. THE OUTPUTS

13. THE OUTPUTS
Mental Stealth
information Graphics
T

14. THE OUTPUTS
Mental Stealth
information Graphics
T

15. THE OUTPUTS
Mental Stealth
information Graphics Teen Suicide
T

16. THE OUTPUTS
Mental Stealth
Mental Health Posters

17. THE OUTPUTS
Font Feeling – Students designed posters from hand
made scuptures of typographic words based on
concepts of mental health.
Typographic Mental Health Posters

18. THE OUTPUTS
Font Feeling
Typographic Mental Health Posters

19. THE OUTPUTS
Font Feeling
Typographic Mental Health Posters

20. THE OUTPUTS
Font Feeling
Typographic Mental Health Posters

21. THE OUTPUTS
Space of Hope –Students designed upliftment of the
SADAG outreach site in Diepsloot.
The Garden Space

22. THE OUTPUTS
Space of Hope –Students designed upliftment of the
SADAG outreach site in Diepsloot.

23. THE OUTPUTS
Space of Hope –Students designed upliftment of the
SADAG outreach site in Diepsloot.
“Rocks of Hope”

24. EVALUATION
This project entails very complex and sensitive subject matter, which
the students handled with maturity and genuine interest. To the point
where they took the initiative to make additional posters such
suicide in the elderly and ADHD as well as rape trauma. Unfortunately
SADAG does not directly address this in their services. These however
can be given to affiliate organisations.

25. EVALUATION
I think the benefit for the students themselves was enormous. They
became the secondary beneficiaries of a community project. Gaining
empathy and new insights into mental health. As SADAG deals with
the youth, this is of great impact in raising awareness on mental
health and hence disseminates the very important work they do.
The posters and information graphics are important in that they are
used by journalists to spread the mental health issues to the greater
South African community and medical health professionals.

26. THANKS
Many thanks to Naazia, Anne, Thabo and most importantly to Zane
Wilson for the very important work they do and the contribution to a
very serious subject that affects us all.