I was reminded today of my chat with @persproj, so thought I'd share. Mental health stigma & internalised shame stop us having open honest conversations - it kills people - we need to hold safe spaces for conversations that may be tough & uncomfortable.

Thank you @persproj for interviewing me. Here you can read more about the relation between #mentalhealth and my paintings. https://t.co/U3EdVXaj3S #arezouart #arezouramezani #paintings #inkonpaper #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawarness

"This is how I saw therapy. Talking about things that needed addressing felt rather like pulling teeth. Whilst it appears invasive, there's a whole lot of positive growth that comes from it." - stonegeist #mentalhealthart

"I suffer from anxiety and use numerous techniques to try to rise above it, art being something I can always turn to. Whether something works or not, the creation is key, and the journey to finding a completed piece is inspiring." - Martyn Whitlock #mentalhealthart #anxiety

"My painting is about how people can be quick to judge what someone is like on the outside, when they don't know what is happening on the inside." 'States of Mind' by Syed Mohsin Ali Rizvi. #mentalhealthawareness

"Art is my sanctuary. Art is where I make sense of the overwhelming emotions that sometimes consume me. Where I can release and where I can lose myself." - Katherine Bryan-Merrett #artheals #mentalhealthart

"This image is about allowing us to feel our sadness when it visits us. And to release it to a place outside of our body through music, art, walking, writing, cooking, rather than storing it or denying it. The image depicts a moment of surrender." - Nanette. #mentalhealthart

"This piece relates to my feelings of depression; the sense of being physically paralysed but my mind is in a whirlpool of thoughts." 'The Illusion' by Koorosh. #mentalhealthart #depression

"This was created over a period of difficult months for me and therefore represents the struggle between staying motivated and being self-critical during a time of difficulty." - Amy Cummings. #mentalhealthart

"My work is my therapy, my world is creative, my mind is happier when escaping into creativity." - Gerald Francis O’Dowd. #mentalhealthart #arttherapy

"This represents what it feels like to be trapped in the pit of depression. You try to reach out and you feel like you are being pulled back in by your own self-doubts and sadness." 'Depression' by Simone Hill. #depressionawareness #mentalhealthart

"This is how I experience my ADHD: the harsh lines over the prefrontal cortex feels like interference to me, which makes it very hard to stay focused and not get distracted by anything and everything." 'The ADHD Brain' by Nour. #ADHDawareness

"I'm a British army veteran and served 22 years before leaving in 2017. I took up art to fill the void left behind after life in the forces. This piece is a response to male suicide with a high proportion of army veterans struggling with life after the army." - Matt Whitefield

WE'RE BACK! 🎤🎶 Join us for our first open-mic night of 2022! Get tickets here: https://t.co/JKzOl512g8 #mentalhealthawareness #londonevent #openmic #music #poetry

"My work is all about mental health, meaning I pour myself onto paper and canvas. It truly has saved my life." - Bassé. #mentalhealthart #emotions

"Since my daughter passed away from a rare illness six years ago I have suffered from PTSD. I find painting a helpful way to express memories and emotions in my grief." - MaryAnne Hunt #ptsd #mentalhealthart

"I'm learning to listen to my inner world, the gentle whisper of intuition guiding me rather than the rule and regulations of a society that I didn’t choose. Seeking solitude and calmness away from the chaos." 'The Healing' by Amanda May. #mentalhealthart

"Having struggled with undiagnosed mental illness, art and writing is a safe way for me to make sense of my surroundings and current thought processes. It's not just a hobby, it's a lifeline." - Isis Ewers #arttherapy #mentalhealthmatters

"Growing up I was often told it was a negative trait to be too sensitive, but now I realise the power my emotions have in understanding others and caring about the world around me." 'Heart in my Hands' by Henna Bakhshi. #mentalhealthart #emotions

"A lot of my work illustrates what's going on in my head and is a note to myself to keep positive, to choose where I look and pursue love in all situations." - Tom Miller #mentalhealthart #love