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WHY BLUE CIRCLE?

Blue Circle Art Therapy was created by Amzie Reeves; a person who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for over 20 years. While combining her love of art with her passion to help others who are living with T1D she believes the quality of T1D self-management directly impacts a person's mental health and vice versa.

 

Type 1 diabetes is a complex physical illness with demanding requirements, which can cause psychological distress from time to time. T1D is unfortunately NOT going away anytime soon. Due to T1D's dependence on self-management  you may implicitly feel solely responsible for the perceived failures as well as successes which can lead to a tremendous psychological burden. 

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Being diagnosed with T1 impacts all aspects of life. It can be overwhelming to have to cope with feelings of loss, guilt, fears, shame, depression, denial, anxiety, and exhaustion; right along with having to deal with the physical disease itself. Art Therapy can be used to create a sense of belonging, overcome fears, and motivate people to keep going. We keep going because we have to; but we don’t have to do it alone!

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A "Blue Circle" is the worldwide symbol for Type 1 diabetes. November is Diabetes awareness month, and November 14th is “World Diabetes Day. Many causes and conditions have a colored ribbon to symbolize the cause. In the diabetes community, we have done something very different—a blue circle.

Until 2006, there was no global symbol for diabetes. The purpose of the symbol is to give diabetes a common identity. It aims to:

  • Support all existing efforts to raise awareness about diabetes

  • Inspire new activities, bring diabetes to the attention of the general public

  • Brand diabetes

  • Provide a means to show support for the fight against diabetes

Why a circle?

The circle occurs frequently in nature and has thus been widely employed since the dawn of humankind. The significance is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle can symbolize life and health. Most significantly for the campaign, the circle symbolizes unity. Our combined strength is the key element that made this campaign so special. The global diabetes community came together to support a United Nations Resolution on diabetes and needs to remain united to make a difference. As we all know, to do nothing is no longer an option.

Why blue?

The blue border of the circle reflects the color of the sky and the flag of the United Nations. The United Nations itself is a symbol of unity amongst nations, and is the only organization that can encourage governments everywhere to fight diabetes and reverse the global trends that will impede economic development and cause so much suffering and premature death.

Keegan Hall, the President of the Young Leaders in Diabetes Program

WHAT IS ART THERAPY?

Art therapy is a therapeutic practice that uses creative processes like painting, drawing, and other forms of art-making to help individuals express themselves and explore their emotions. It serves as a universal language, allowing people to communicate feelings that may be difficult to articulate with words. Through creativity, art therapy can promote healing, self-discovery, and personal growth, making it a powerful tool for emotional well-being.

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"Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

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Art Therapy, facilitated by a professional art therapist, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns. Art Therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change." -American Art Therapy Association

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