Mental Health Mural
132 5th St NW (Canton, OH 44702)
The Story
7th-grade students from Crenshaw Middle School designed and produced a mental health mural to promote awareness and empathy in Downtown Canton. The students also used their individual mental health-themed artworks to create free art therapy resources for counselors and teachers at schools across Stark County.
In the Fall of 2025, working alongside muralist Kat Francis, the middle school artists (then in 8th grade) transformed their individual artworks into a collective mural depicting a phoenix rising from symbols of anxiety, depression, and grief. The design and symbolism were co-created by the muralist and students to represent their lived experiences. Located in Downtown Canton at 132 5th St NW (Canton, OH 44702), the mural conveys a message of hope for individuals struggling with mental health challenges. The team completed the mural in September 2025 and presented it during the 2025 ArtsinStark Mural Fest.
Free Mental Health Activities
In the Spring of 2026, the team used their mental health-themed art to create art therapy activities for Stark County middle schools. These electronic, printable resources will be shared with schools at the beginning of the 2026/2027 school year.
