Art as Therapy: Bridging Mental Health Gaps in the Edmonton Region

In this episode of United Way’s Do Local Good podcast, hosts Yawa Idi and Rahma Dalmar explore how art therapy is making a meaningful impact on mental health in the Alberta Capital Region. Joined by special guests Derryl-Lynn Braumberger, MCP-AT, CCC, and Laura Torgrimson, MCP-AT, CCC, art therapists from The Family Centre, the conversation highlights the critical need for accessible mental health resources. Together, they discuss how United Way-supported initiatives like All in for Youth foster supportive spaces where creative expression can be a powerful tool for healing. Hear inspiring stories of how art therapy helps build connection, hope, and strength in Edmonton's diverse communities.

Get Involved:

• Learn more about how you can make a difference with GenNEXT: https://www.myunitedway.ca/take-action/join-a-group/gennext/
• Access local resources by calling 211, texting INFO to 211, or chatting online at 211 Alberta: https://ab.211.ca/

Featured Programs and Resources:

• All in for Youth: https://www.myunitedway.ca/allinforyouth/
• The Family Centre: https://www.familycentre.org/
• Tools for School: https://www.myunitedway.ca/tools-for-school/
• Coats for Kids & Families: https://www.myunitedway.ca/how-we-help/basic-needs/coats-for-kids-and-families/

Special Acknowledgments:

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our hosts, Yawa Idi and Rahma Dalmar, for leading this inspiring conversation, and to our guests, Derryl-Lynn Braumberger and Laura Torgrimson, for sharing their expertise and passion for building resilient communities through art therapy.

Special thanks to The Family Centre for their ongoing leadership in providing essential mental health resources in our community. We also acknowledge the incredible teams at All in for Youth schools across the Alberta Capital Region, whose unwavering dedication helps create supportive environments where young people can thrive.

A big thank-you to everyone from United Way and the GenNEXT Cabinet involved in the production of this podcast, including Adam Piercey, Chris Tse, Courtney Riley, Catherine Lee-Hanley, and Daryl Hooke, for their creativity, hard work, and commitment to amplifying stories of resilience and connection.

Lastly, we express our gratitude to our listeners for joining us on this journey to explore how creative solutions like art therapy can help strengthen our community.

Together, we are building resilient, connected, and thriving communities where no one is left behind.

Land Acknowledgment:

This episode was recorded in Edmonton, Alberta, on Treaty Six Territory and the Métis Nation of Alberta North Saskatchewan River Territory. We acknowledge that this land has long served as a meeting place, gathering ground, and travel route for the diverse Indigenous Peoples who have called it home for generations. These include the nêhiyawak (Cree), Blackfoot, Dene, Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Nakota Sioux, Inuit, and Métis. We are deeply grateful for the resources, knowledge, and culture shared by Indigenous communities, as we walk together on the path toward reconciliation. We honour and respect their contributions, which help guide our work to ensure no one in our community is left behind.