Assistance for Mental Illness

Recently, I was interviewed on a local radio station Radio Øst by, Yvonne Ringnes Nilsen, regarding my views about mental health treatment in Norway. She wrote an article titled, "Tilbudet til Psykisk Syke er Mangelfullt" on Ille Bra Blogg about the interview. (See it here in Norwegian) Below is the article loosely translated into English:

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"Assistance for Mental Illness is Defective"

Artist David Sandum, who lives in Våler, believes it is high time we discuss assistance for the mentally ill.

Unfortunately, the help is not good enough and I myself think the assistance has been poorer in recent years. Many mentally ill people end up not being seen or taken seriously. At worst, they end up taking their lives. It is very important that we talk about this, he says.

Bipolar Disorder

Sandum has worked as an artist for 20 years and lives in Indre Østfold. With the diagnosis of bipolar disorder he has periods of extreme highs and lows. After a so-called manic period, there is usually a period where he is very depressed. I have had periods in my life where I have been so ill that I have been forced into the hospital. It was many years ago, but I have been there, explains Sandum.

In a candid interview, he talks about his own thoughts on a health care system that he believes doesn't take mentally ill patients seriously.

The assistance for mentally ill people in Norway is far too poor. My personal experience is that the offer has been gradually getting worse in recent years, says Sandum.

(Hear the full interview at the bottom of the article)

Lack of follow-up

He cites examples where patients have to wait months before receiving help to be admitted.

When you first get help, there is usually a time frame of up to two weeks for treatment, before you have to return home again. Would you like to go back before you feel ready? Moving back to an empty apartment against your will? It's no wonder some patients see no way out, stated Sandum, who believes there is a lack of follow-up after discharge.

David Sandum is one of several Østfold artists represented during the Winter Exhibition at Galleri Soli Brug in Sarpsborg. The exhibition opens on Saturday 18 January and runs until 26 January.

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The interview is from "Good Morning Østfold" which runs every weekday from 09.00 and in reprise at 16.00. FM 97.3, DAB and online radio www.radio-ost.no

You can listen to the full interview here (in Norwegian)

An Interview, by Angela Cappetta

Since 2014, I have been taking yearly study trips to New York City. It has been wonderful to connect with many artists and creatives in the city that never sleeps. I am always inspired by the energy there. One of the artists I have been fortunate to meet is Angela Cappetta, a most talented photographer. She has also acquired some of my work. She recently asked to interview me about my art and creative process for her blog.

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"The focus of my work is to transfer emotion. Artists work in many ways. Some copy what they see and others start with an empty canvas and see what evolves. I am of the latter kind. It happens that I have a clear motif in mind, but it is rare. Even if I do, it never ends up the way I thought because I paint impulsively. There is always a psychological element in my work. I started to paint to deal with my struggle with depression"

"I only care that the viewer feel something, using psychological themes that we all share: Longing, love, pain, loss, difficulty in communication, admiration of nature, energy, passion and so on. People will interpret these themes based on their own experience. But in the end, our journey and experiences as human beings on this Earth, are similar."

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Head here to read the interview: https://angelacappetta.com/2019-03-30-expressionist_painter-david-sandum/

In the Spirit of Christmas

Above is an animation of one of my paintings. Made for me by a friend.

And In the spirit of Christmas, I posting this photo of Våler Kirke (Våler Church), located not far from my house. Taking this photo, I marveled at the history. It was built 1150-1200 AD. Have a good holiday with family and friends. I'll see you in 2019!