An art exhibit opening tonight at City Hall will showcase the talents of mental health sufferers on the Island.

'Mindframe: Photovoice Exhibition' will feature art, photography and poetry from 30 Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute clients.

Bettyann Pierre, 62, is one of the budding artists that will be featured. The mother of four said she spent years of her life dedicated to raising her children – and in turn lost herself.

But after taking part in the therapeutic art programme eight weeks ago, she has found a new lease on life and is on the "sweet" road to recovery.

"I used to be easily stressed, high strung and basically always going. I was going through a dark period in my life and I never thought I could come to that point in my life where I could really enjoy life and things again," she said.

"I started photography last year with MWI and I sold two pieces. It gave me confidence and now I am in a better frame of mind and have dug down within myself.

"I am learning now to appreciate life. I am bringing out the things I never knew about myself."

The art and photography programme, in its second year, has given many MWI clients the chance to express themselves in a world where they are often stigmatised, said Tom Raic, an occupational therapist.

"This art work here is an expression of each artist's or photographer's recovery journey. I am very, very proud of all the participants. I just encourage the public to come and see this for themselves and I really hope this will change their perception of mental illness.

"There is a lot to be learnt from these participants," Mr. Raic said.

Along with Mr. Raic, four other occupational therapists, one physiotherapist and artists Karen Dyer, Ami Zanders and Tamell Simons worked to make the programme a success.

Mr. Simons, a photographer with The Royal Gazette, has volunteered with the programme for the past two years.

He commended the programme and said: "It gives (these individuals) a voice. That is the big thing and it facilitates a way for them to express how they feel and what they see with minimum filters.

"Sometimes when we say something we need to filter it to be politically correct or someone can take offence or make you second guess what you want to say and how you want to say it.

"I think with photography and this programme in particular it just allows them to express themselves genuinely."

The art exhibit starts tonight at Bermuda Society of Arts showroom in City Hall at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will run until October 13.