As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, NaphCare, a leading correctional healthcare company, and the NaphCare Charitable Foundation (NCF) highlight the third year of their annual art initiative and advocacy campaign, “Reframing Mental Health.” Original artwork created by patients at 12 NaphCare partner facilities across eight states will be exhibited in May in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
“Mental health treatment has long carried stigma, particularly in correctional settings, where seeking support can feel difficult or vulnerable” said Amber Simpler, Ph.D., ABPP, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Research at the NCF. “Programs like ‘Reframing Mental Health’ provide a powerful outlet for expression to those who may have difficulty conveying their thoughts, struggles, and experiences with words."
Nearly two in five people in correctional facilities experience symptoms of mental illness, roughly twice the rate of the adult community population. “Reframing Mental Health” directly addresses this reality by inviting patients to explore mental health themes through structured creative expression, using art as a tool for self-reflection, stigma reduction, and emotional well-being.
The 2025–2026 program provided patients with mindfulness coloring pages, a six-unit Self-Care Workbook, and freestyle art materials. At select facilities, patients collaborated on large-scale community murals. Participating facilities spanned Forsyth County, NC; Fulton County, GA; Gwinnett County Correctional Complex, GA; Hillsborough County, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Manatee County, FL; Newton County, GA; San Diego County, CA; Washoe County, NV; Wayne County, MI; and the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
“The program encouraged patients to lean in with creativity and curiosity without any judgment,” said Joshua Bowen, a NaphCare mental health professional at Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center. “It offered a chance for them to express themselves, which turned into art and a moment of freedom.”
“Reframing Mental Health” complements NaphCare’s mission to improve and save lives and its commitment to care that addresses the full spectrum of patient well-being through clinical interventions and programs that restore dignity, build coping skills, and support successful reentry into the community.
“Mental health treatment has long carried stigma, particularly in correctional settings, where seeking support can feel difficult or vulnerable” said Amber Simpler, Ph.D., ABPP, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Research at the NCF. “Programs like ‘Reframing Mental Health’ provide a powerful outlet for expression to those who may have difficulty conveying their thoughts, struggles, and experiences with words."
