Mental health trust receives $22,000

Mental health trust receives $22,000 benefit from major art exhibition

A national mental health trust received more than $20,000 last night from a major charity painting auction in Auckland.

Mind Matters Trust are the beneficiary of the Fishers Fine Arts Christmas charity exhibition at their Auckland gallery in Parnell, Auckland.

The auction donated more than $22,000 from nearly $80,000 of painting sales to the charity.

A large Brian Strong on canvas was sold for $14,500. Strong, born in Christchurch, was the first New Zealand painter to split the canvas into three sections within one painting.

More than 250 people attended last night’s gala charity event for Mind Matters, a trust set up in 1997 to help young people experiencing serious mental illness.

Trust coordinator Cate Ashford said early intervention is needed to help young people and their families to learn how to manage their illnesses.

Mind Matters, which includes founding trustee Angela Paykel on its board, have purchased a site in Auckland to build a large house where up to seven families can stay.

``We know a high rate of recovery is possible with the right intervention and support,’’ she said.

``The name of the residence will be chosen by the first young people who stay there.’’

One in four New Zealanders will experience a mental illness in their lifetime and the trust wants to decrease the stigma associated with mental illness.

Auction organiser Simon Fisher said both the gallery and artists donated proceeds.

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