My key unlocks and releases any negative thoughts locked in my head.

The Key to Understanding • Stories of Struggle and Healing will expose the deep fears and sincere hopes of individuals who suffer from mental health issues, their caretakers and first responders. This moving exhibit will give a voice to folks who suffer from an illness that is hard to explain to others. This key unlocks the chains that shackle my happiness.

Individuals participating in NAMI programs were given an opportunity to reflect on their experiences with mental health and create a meaningful piece of art inspired by a key. They each were asked to select a used key, draw it and answer the simple question,

What does your key open or start or do?

The Key Idea, Inc. will fund this project through a grant from the hope & grace fund, a project of the New Venture Fund in partnership with the global women’s skincare brand Philosophy, inc. 

The goal is to give people an opportunity to share their unique experiences through art and writing as well as to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness through this large-scale community engagement project.

 The KeyStories were collected over a six -month period; the exhibit will travel to regional libraries. See The Key to Understanding at the Mashpee Public Library in July; the opening reception will be Saturday July 14, 2:00-4:00. Materials will be available for others to add their experiences to this growing exhibit.

 For more information including exhibit schedules, visit the website, www.thekeyidea.org