PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The West Java Provincial Government (Pemprov), through the People's Welfare Bureau, in collaboration with Ruang Empati and the Aesthetics and Arts Expertise Group of FSRD ITB, held the "Bipolar Awareness Week with Art as Therapy" program.

Through the collaboration, the West Java Provincial Government seeks to provide a safe and inclusive space for bipolar disorder survivors to express themselves and recover. The event also serves as a means to promote art as a therapeutic medium that is impactful and meaningful.

The activity was held for five days, from 2 - 6 May 2025, at the Soemardja Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology.

With the theme "Art Has the Power to Heal and Comfort", this program is inspired by the life and work of Vincent van Gogh, a great artist and bipolar disorder survivor.

Van Gogh showed that art can be a channel for emotional expression and a powerful healing tool for those experiencing mental health disorders.

The participants involved come from various backgrounds, such as school children, university students, educators, bipolar survivors, and the general public.

The series of events began with a panel discussion on May 2, followed by a debate competition, scientific papers, and a poster competition on the theme of mental health on May 3.

The third day was filled with educational sessions about self-love and focusing on the present. The session also discussed today's mental health challenges.

On May 5, activities focused on mental health screenings as well as workshops for medical and non-medical personnel.

The event closed on May 6 with the “Safe Space” activity which presented a sharing, healing and focus on current conditions session as well as an art therapy workshop. (Jabar Public Relations Release; Rep No)