​VIBE Arts instructors Jamera DaCosta (left) and Vero Diaz (right) with the mural

At Humber River Health's Inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, healing goes beyond clinical intervention; it includes self-discovery, community, imagination, and the therapeutic power of art. This can be seen through a unique and meaningful partnership between Humber River Health (Humber) and VIBE Arts.

The Inpatient Child and Adolescent Unit serves children and adolescents up to their 19th birthday whose mental health needs cannot be adequately met through outpatient services. With six inpatient beds, the unit provides intensive care to youth experiencing acute psychiatric challenges in a 24-hour protective and therapeutic environment. The program is grounded in a bio-psychosocial model, meaning that each young person's care plan takes into account the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to their health and well-being.

Supporting each patient is a compassionate, interdisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, child and youth workers, social workers, teachers, nurses, an educational assistant, a chaplain, and a pharmacist. A dietitian is also available as needed. Together with the patient and their family, this team develops a personalized plan to guide the patient's recovery during their stay, which typically lasts about three weeks.

For those stepping down from inpatient care or who need additional supports, Humber offers a Transitional Day Program (TDP), a bridge that enables patients to return to their homes at night while continuing to receive therapeutic and academic support during the day. This gradual reintegration allows youth to build confidence in real-world settings while still benefiting from the structure and stability of hospital-based care.

Within both the inpatient unit and the TDP, Humber has partnered with VIBE Arts to offer a powerful form of expression that words alone cannot always capture, with art. This partnership represents a unique opportunity to engage young patients in meaningful, accessible, and inclusive creative experiences during what can be difficult periods of their lives.

Founded in 1995, VIBE Arts is a Toronto-based charitable organization committed to providing high-quality arts education and mentorship to young people from equity-deserving communities. Their programs are designed to foster creativity, self-confidence, and community connection through a wide range of disciplines, including visual arts, poetry, music, dance, drama, and filmmaking. VIBE Art's approach is rooted in social justice and challenges systemic barriers to participation in the arts, such as poverty, racism, and lack of access.

This spring, Humber patients participated in an eight-week VIBE Arts program that resulted in the creation of a collaborative mural. This vibrant artwork, developed through shared ideas, storytelling, and creative exploration, will be displayed within the Mental Health Department at Humber during Mental Health Week.

“Art helps with wellness and emotional health," says Vero Diaz, a VIBE Arts instructor who has worked with Humber for the past three years. “Some patients arrive unable to complete tasks or express themselves verbally. But with gentle encouragement, they often gain the confidence to create. The freedom to choose their materials, colours, or themes is empowering. Even small steps, like completing a painting, can represent major breakthroughs."

“At first, some participants don't want to do anything at all, but over time, you see them start to engage," says Jamera DaCosta, another instructor with VIBE Arts. “Even something as simple as adding texture or painting a solid colour is a form of expression. Watching them find a way to share what's inside, through movement, through music, through painting, is a joy."

The evidence backs up what Vero and Jamera witness in each session. Art therapy has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma, while promoting emotional regulation, cognitive development, and increased self-esteem. In paediatric mental health settings, it offers a non-verbal outlet for processing difficult experiences, particularly for children who may struggle to articulate complex emotions in words. More importantly, the program gives youth the rare opportunity to reclaim their voices during a time when their autonomy can often feel limited.

The following quotes are what participating patients had to say about the partnership:

• “I like how the program encourages creativity… Art brings together teamwork, helps us to achieve a goal and make changes when needed. It's fun working together." – Patient A
• “I like getting my hands messy." – Patient B
• “I like that the art fosters creativity, and that our teachers take an approach to get to know us better." – Patient C
• “I like our art teachers Vero and Jamera. They encourage us to do new things, they are great teachers." – Patient D

For Humber River Health, the partnership with VIBE Arts reflects a broader commitment to person-centered, innovative, and inclusive care. It is not just about treating a diagnosis, it is about seeing each patient as a whole person and creating the right conditions for them to thrive.

This Mental Health Week, the mural created by these young artists is more than just a colourful installation. It represents a statement of courage, connection, and creativity. It reminds us all that healing does not always happen in silence or solitude, it can occur with laughter, shared stories, and paint-covered hands.

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