Schuylkill County high school students recently created ceramic masks to symbolize the “masks” people often wear to conceal their struggles.

Photographs of the masks crafted for the “I’m Fine” art initiative are now on display at the Schuylkill County Courthouse and will then travel to the Tamaqua Arts Center.

The project’s title — “I’m Fine” — refers to a phrase people often say when they’re not.

The initiative is a collaboration among the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania, and Schuylkill County Mental Health and Developmental Services.

Held in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, “I’m Fine” is meant to bring art and emotional wellness to the forefront in local schools.

Students from the Pine Grove Area, North Schuylkill, Shenandoah Valley, Blue Mountain and Pottsville Area school districts created the masks, according to Denise Hughes, a UPMC spokeswoman.

“The schools were selected through direct outreach by Schuylkill County Mental Health and Developmental Services Program staff to art teachers at all of the high schools in the county,” she said. “Five schools ultimately chose to participate, and over 150 students were involved across those schools”

Schuylkill County officials then coordinated exhibits at the venues, including the Walk-In Art Center in Schuylkill Haven, which hosted the exhibit earlier this month.

Where to see the masks

The display will be at the courthouse in Pottsville through May 27, and at the Tamaqua Arts Center from May 29 to June 7.

The Tamaqua center, 125 Pine St., will hold an opening reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on May 29. The event is free, and includes refreshments and an interactive activity.

“I’m personally excited to host a gallery designed to make conversations about mental health more approachable through the power of art,” said Kyle Whitley, director of the Tamaqua Arts Center.

The mask movement begins

Since the project began in 2019, more than 1,600 masks have been made in workshops across Pennsylvania.

Hughes said it was the first time it was offered in Schuylkill County.

She noted that because workshop facilitators and teachers are not mental health professionals, they don’t delve into individual stories or struggles when students are creating the masks.

“They did (however) focus on encouraging students to recognize the value of reaching out for help and being part of a more informed and supportive community,” Hughes said.

Schools also distribute mental health literature and encourage students to become involve in Aevidum clubs, which promote mental health awareness through peer support.

“These works of art designed by students represent more than creativity — they reveal courage, vulnerability and a deep desire to be seen and understood,” said Matthew Hurford, MD, president and CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health Organization and vice president of Behavioral Health for the UPMC Insurance Services Division. “We are proud to support our youth in using art as a tool for emotional expression and community connection.”

Funding for the initiative is from the Health Resources and Services Administration, and it is part of the GRACE Project — a grant-funded consortium focused on enhancing behavioral health prevention, treatment and recovery services for youths in Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties.

The GRACE Project works to strengthen the ability of providers to care for youth with behavioral health needs.