
Take 10 is an interactive art installation designed to foster meaningful connections and encourage conversations about mental health in a welcoming, non-clinical setting. The installation recreates the comfort of a living room with inviting furniture, offering passers-by a space to pause, reflect, and engage. Participants are invited to sit opposite the artist for a ten-minute conversation that gently approaches the topic of mental health in an open and non-hierarchal manner.
Amelia spent time researching the highlights of the transformative impact of human connection on mental wellbeing, with studies showing that just ten minutes of face-to-face conversation can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and lower the risk of suicide. The Take 10 installations put this research into practice, using art as a medium to build bridges and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health discussions.
The debut of Take 10 took place at Sheffield Train Station and drew over 60 participants, with some choosing to extend their conversations to as long as thirty minutes. These discussions covered a range of topics, including participants’ personal wellbeing and the mental health of their loved ones. Train stations, as transient yet communal spaces, provide a compelling backdrop for addressing mental health. Between 2018 and 2019, UK train stations recorded over 300 suicides, highlighting the urgent need for interventions that promote wellbeing and offer support in these environments. Take 10 hoped to remind commuters of the power of simple human interaction.
Since its inception, Take 10 has been hosted at various institutions and conventions, continuing to build community and awareness around mental health. The project owes its beginnings to the invaluable support of Dwell Time Huddersfield, whose encouragement helped bring this initiative to life.