I thought this was an interesting project that may be taking place in Warren, PA.  there are plans to try and put together a festival that focuses on mental health but instead of focusing directly on it, they are talking about good mental health through positive hobbies as a way to promote mental health awareness month.  Below is the article as it was found in the Warren Times Observer on February 1, 2008 ….

Festival would boost mental health: Good hobbies object of idea for street fest

By LYDIA COTTRELL Staff Writer

Gary Lester, executive director of Family Services of Warren County, plans to promote the awareness of mental health by putting the focus on healthy hobbies. His plan involves having a event that resembles a street performer festival and would feature musicians, jugglers,artists and dancers.

“I could envision a corner with rappers,” he said.

Chris Cheronis of the Warren Main Street program called it a “buskers festival.” Buskers is an old British term for street performers, she said.The Warren Main Street program will be collaborating with Family Services and the Warren County Summer School on the project. Lester would also like to see many social clubs get involved to promote their programs.

“This is an opportunity for artists to showcase their talent in a very casual setting,” Cheronis said. “If we get a tourism draw, that is an added bonus.”

Cheronis said the festival would be a kick-off for the Art Attack, the art in the park series, and will be bring a “urban-esque” feel to the downtown.

Lester got the idea for a street performer festival from his travels around the country. He witnessed a similar event in Cambridge, Mass., and thought, “We can do that in downtown Warren.”

The motivation behind planning the festival is promoting mentally healthy activities while building confidence in the young artists of Warren County.

“Mental illness is usually the focus,” he admitted. “The concept started when I wanted to be a crusader for mental health,”

For Lester, mental health is like physical health. There are proactive measures to ward off mental issues. It is similar to how people use exercise and a healthy diet to prevent physical illnesses.

Lester said the festival feeds into the five basic needs, a concept accredited to his mentor, Dr. Willam Glasser.

The five basic needs are survival, freedom, love and belonging, power and fun. A street performer festival obviously fulfills the need for “fun.”

“We’re not keying in on the desirability of these activities,” he added.

The idea of creating mental health through positive activity is unconventional. “This is a real idealistic concept,” said Lester.

“If you are not a happy person, you need to go out and do something,” he added.

The hope is that the event will illuminate the “simple concept” of striving to be mentally healthy, Lester said. He would like the promotion of mental health at the same status of quit smoking campaigns or breast cancer research.

While he doesn’t have a working title for project, Lester said, “There is almost a slogan of ‘Warren is mentally healthy.’” The idea is still in its very early stages; the projected date is June 27.

Section: News Date Posted: 2/1/2008
http://timesobserver.com/printPage.asp?articleID=720