Each year Highland community groups join together for our annual festival which aims to support the arts and challenge stigma and preconceived ideas about mental health. Organisations involved include Mikeysline, Creativity In Care, Highland Mindfulness Group, Centred & the Discovery College, High Life Highland (libraries), Arts in Nature, N4H, North Coast Helping Hands, Green Tree Arts Studio, Tongue Walking Group, HUG (Action for Mental Health), Rag Tag n Textile (Skye), UHI Inverness.
To help us with running costs, we are grateful for any donations. Simply use this link to donate to us via PayPal paypal.me/smhafhighland and thank you for your support!
Please check back regularly for more additions to the autumn 2025 festival programme and follow us on Facebook.
Please contact individual event organisers with any queries.
You can contact the SMHAF Highland team on smhafhighland@gmail.com
2025 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Art Exhibition - Disturb & Comfort
14 November - 9 January (Mon & Wed 10am-6pm, Tue & Fri 10am-8pm, Thu & Sat 10am-1pm)
Thurso Art Gallery, Thurso Library, Davidson’s Lane, Thurso KW14 7AF
Following the exhibitions in Inverness, this year's artworks will be on display in Caithness over the winter.
Friday 14th November - join us from 3pm - 5pm for a 'Gathering' event with refreshments to launch the exhibition.
Past events:
Art Exhibition
19th - 23rd August
Venue: LMPA Academy, Broadford, Skye
The folks at Rag Tag n Textile on Skye have been creating some amazing artwork for this year's theme of Comfort & Disturb. Following this exhibition, their artwork will go on to be included in the main exhibition in Inverness in September/October.
Mask making and Exploring Identity
Monday 15th September from 10am - 1pm
Wednesday 17th September from 12 noon - 3pm
Friday 19th September from 10.30am - 12.30pm
Tuessday 23rd September from 10.30am - 12.30pm
Discovery College, The Wellington Centre, Wick Industrial Estate, Wick, KW1 4QS
Exporing identity allows us to think about our values, beliefs, and aspirations. It encourages us to think about our own journey of recovery and how we understand the concept of recovery in a personal way. Through the use of creative methods in these sessions, we will explore what comforts us and what disturbs us thinking about the human condition and how we hold our space in the world. There will be the potential for individual expression and group activities to create a piece of work which demands attention and speaks of Connection Hope and Belonging.
Please book via the Discovery College website.
Or you can book by phone 01463 236507 or email discoverycollege@centred.scot
Exploring Identity
Tuesdays from 1pm - 3pm on 16th September, 23rd September and 30th September
Discovery College, Eastgate Centre, Inverness
Exporing identity allows us to think about our values, beliefs, and aspirations. It encourages us to think about our own journey of recovery and how we understand the concept of recovery in a personal way. Through the use of creative methods in these sessions, we will explore what comforts us and what disturbs us thinking about the human condition and how we hold our space in the world. There will be the potential for individual expression and group activities to create a piece of work which demands attention and speaks of Connection Hope and Belonging.
Please book via the Discovery College website.
Or you can book by phone 01463 236507 or email discoverycollege@centred.scot
Nature in Contrast: A mixed media workshop
Wednesday 24th September from 11am - 12.30pm
Inverness Botanic Garden
Arts in Nature are leading this workshop for the Discovery College at The Ed Shed at Inverness Botanic Gardens.
To experience the calming effects of nature and creative activities in a relaxing environment, join Charlotte from Arts in Nature for this nature inspired creative workshop designed to harness the healing power of nature and creativity.
We will be creating artwork using mixed media techniques which will include a range of inspiring materials and natural items. These sessions are tailored for individuals facing mental health challenges, offering a supportive environment to explore and express through art. Each session includes a short walk in nature to inspire and calm the mind; a creative art or craft activity using natural materials to create meaningful art; and time to connect with others for chat and refreshments. 18+
Free. Booking required via the Discovery College website
Or you can book by phone 01463 236507 or email discoverycollege@centred.scot
Art Exhibitions - Disturb & Comfort
29th September - 24th October
Eden Court Theatre & Cinema, Inverness (on the second floor in the first circle Gallery. Open Mon-Tue from 4pm, Wed-Sun from 11am)
The Bike Shed in Merkinch hosts a smaller exhibition (Open Thursday 10am - 12 noon, Friday 10am - 12 noon and 5.30pm - 9pm, Saturday 10am - 12 noon).
This year’s theme - 'Comfort & Disturb' set by the Mental Health Foundation has inspired many creative artworks from established local artists and from people creating art for the first time individually or through mental health groups around the Highlands. Many of the unique artworks are for sale. The exhibitions celebrate the value of arts in mental health recovery and wellbeing. You can send us comments via our interactive 'Padlet'.
Launch event for the Annual Art Exhibition
Friday 3rd October 1pm - 3pm
Eden Court Theatre & Cinema, Inverness
This well-loved annual exhibition celebrates the value of arts in mental health recovery and wellbeing. From self-expression to therapeutic processes the work often moves, perturbs, motivates and delights our audiences. Join in with this informal drop-in event and discover the inspirational art created by individual artists and groups from Caithness, Sutherland, Ross-shire, Skye and Inverness, sharing responses to this year’s SMHAF theme 'Comfort & Disturb'. Join us for this friendly drop-in event any time between 1pm and 3pm to meet the artists and groups involved.
Walk a Mile
Saturday 11th October at 2pm
Inverness
Join Mikeysline, Centred, HUG (Action for Mental Health), N4H and other local groups for the annual Walk a Mile in their shoes to raise awareness of mental health issues and challenge stigma. Starting at 2pm at the fishermen's hut by the River Ness (on the corner of Bught Park and Ballifeary Care Home), we will walk up Ness Walk and into the city centre, finishing at Falcon Square. Family-friendly. All welcome. Join us afterwards for chat and teas / coffees at the Discovery College in the Eastgate Centre.
Short Films
Sunday 12th October from 3pm - 5pm
Eden Court Theatre & Cinema, Inverness
Join us for a collection of short fims from around the Highlands including Green Tree Arts Studio, Flip of the Coin, UHI, Mikeysline and Ross County, and more. Followed by Q&A.
Tickets (£5) will be available to buy from the box office. Some free tickets will be available for the organisations involved - please contact Graeme Watson on graemewatson@mikeysline.co.uk
Art, Nature & Wellbeing – A Community Journey: the story of a grassroots community research project developed by Green Tree Arts Studio in collaboration with carers across Moray & Highland, and a researcher from UHI. Together, as co-researchers, we explored how creativity and connection with nature can support and strengthen wellbeing. This project was supported by the Ideas Fund and funded by Wellcome Trust.
Preloved to Reloved is the story of Dawn, a middle-aged woman from London who moved to the Highlands to care for her father in the last year of his life. In the midst of her grief, she opened a preloved clothes shop to support other women like her.
Upstream - a short film by The Canmore Trust, a Scottish charity focused on suicide awareness and prevention, which was launched in 2025. The film shares personal stories of individuals impacted by suicide and was made to challenge people to find both daily routines and challenging goals to improve mental well-being, aligning with the charity's aim to go "upstream" and address the root causes of suicide.
Shredding Pixels - a short film showcasing skateboarding via a collection of diverse scenes, created through the use of video and digital mixed media. All of the content was shot in the Inverness area with the support of the local skateboarding community.
Bowl - a short film by Edinburgh Napier University students which tells the story of an elderly gay man named Arthur who has recently been diagnosed with arthritis. As his bowling club faces closure, he confronts his rival Norma in a bowling competition and discovers what is important to him.
Tongue Walking Group
Wednesday Walks on 15th, 22nd and 29th October from 1pm - 3pm
Join Tongue Walking Group in the countryside of North West Sutherland on one of their free, relaxed and friendly health walks. The group decides on the day where they are walking to, taking into account weather conditions. Afterwards there is the option to gather at a local cafe for coffee and cake.
Free. Contact Tongue Walking Group on 01847 611 327.
Highland Mindfulness Group - Meditation Day - Disturb and Comfort
Saturday 18th October from 10am - 3.30pm
The Treehouse, Carsegate Road, Inverness IV3 8EX
Join Catherine Lavelle, one of the mindfulness facilitators from the Highland Mindfulness Group for a day of guided meditations and poetry.
Life is much like Art - what disturbs one person is a comfort to another and vice versa. The aim of the day is to fit in with this year's SMHAF themes through the medium of poetry looking into the nature of the disturbed mind and how we can find Comfort through mindfulness practice and contemplation. The medium of poetry can speak to a place within us and can act as a salve or medicine to sooth and comfort when we get out of balance. The softening metaphor of poetry can turn one thing into another (Disturb to Comfort) thus enabling compassion to arise when most needed.
The day will be set in such a way that participants can attend part or the whole of the day. So please join us to feel comforted, disturbed, and everything in between.
Tea/coffee will be provided mid morning and mid afternoon. Bring your own lunch and feel free to have a walk along the Caledonian Canal during the lunch break.
To help with room hire costs - suggested donation £25 / concessions £15 for the day. Please don't let affordability be a barrier to attendance. Over 18s only.
Booking required. Please contact Daniel on highlandmindfulness@gmail.com
Green Tree Arts Studio - Mixed Media Art Session 'Comfort & Disturb' - on Zoom
Tuesday 21st October from 7pm - 8.30pm
This mixed media art session held on Zoom with Nicola from Green Tree Arts Studio explores the dual nature of mental health and creativity. Art can comfort us, offering safety and calm. Art can also disturb us challenging stigma, surfacing hidden pain, and sparking change. Through art making and conversation, we invite you to step into both spaces - to be soothed, to be stirred, and to discover how both are necessary in our wellbeing journey.
To book your free place and receive the Zoom link, contact Nicola Kennell contact@greentreeartsstudio.co.uk
Nature in Contrast: A mixed media workshop
Thursday 6th November from 10.30am - 12.30pm
Discovery College, Eastgate Centre, Inverness
Join Arts in Nature at the Discovery College in Inverness for a mixed media collage workshop. Explore nature's contrasts, soft moss, thorny twigs, feathers, and bark as a way to reflect on comfort and unease. A gentle, creative space for expression, reflection, and connection. No art experience needed. 18+
Free. Booking required via https://centred.scot/sessions/
Or you can book by phone 01463 236507 or email discoverycollege@centred.scot
National Programme
Monday 20 October – Sunday 9 November 2025
RAMH invites you to take part in Porridge Portraits, a creative activity using porridge as a canvas to reflect your mood and spark conversations about mental health. Submit your photo to be featured in our online gallery.
Take a photo, give it a title, and send it via WhatsApp to +44 7824 305136 to be included in our online gallery at https://ramh.org/porridgeportraits/
RAMH is a Scottish registered charity based in Paisley, supporting approximately 7,000 people a year across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire in their recovery from mental ill health.
Six Wee Wordies to Comfort and Disturb
Thursday 23 October 2025 on Zoom from 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Join See Me for a relaxed and informal online writing workshop. Using the popular Six Wee Wordies technique, we’ll explore the theme of Comfort & Disturb and how these states can co-exist. This accessible method invites participants to share a story or idea in just six words. No writing experience needed.
Book via Eventbrite and they will send you the Zoom link and joining instructions.