Page 45 - ReAwaken Ebook 1st Ed

The Meaning Manual: re-writing the DSM - an interactive art

project

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, more commonly known as

the DSM, is written by Psychiatrists and medical professionals to label and diagnose
people. This Art project aims to transform an old DSM to capture the narratives and

meaning behind human distress. The Meaning Manual will be created by the community
for the community to capture alternate explanations of distress including the complexity,

meaning and hope of the human experience.

We invite all community members to choose a page from the DSM to transform by using

altered art journaling techniques. Local artists will be available to assist you to paint,

draw, stick, write, stamp, collage and create your way through this transformational
process. All levels of creativity are welcome. The Meaning Manual will be placed on

display at the Reawaken festival and at other events in the future to facilitate
conversations around this new narrative being crafted by our community.

The Meaning Manual is facilitated by Jane Ellis. Jane is first and
foremost a human being. Jane is a passionate Acro Yogi and an

active community member who enjoys fancy tea and cheese.
Through her personal experiences and life journey including trauma

and childhood trauma she has developed a strong passion for
advocacy, human rights, creative community engagement and

trauma. Jane has a background in crisis support work, peer work

and systemic advocacy at a local level and in mental Health Policy
within the consumer and carer spaces. Jane has recently won the

role of Consumer Consultant for Uniting SA in an advocacy, community engagement and
lived experience workforce development role.

45