CAF Story | Cpl Holmstrom’s Look at Mental Health Through Art
Video / January 10, 2020
Transcript
I've been creating art for a really long time. Probably since I was 2, 3 or so.
My name is Karl Holmstrom. I'm a Corporal with PPCLI. I'm currently posted at Suffield and I'm working at the operations room of CFB Suffield.
What happened is my grandpa passed away about two years ago. So, for me, it kind of pushed me to do a little bit more art. So that's why I did the Remember 100 Project, a fundraiser for Wounded Warriors and Soldier On Canada.
So, from there, I worked on art throughout the year. The last month was crunch time. I think I got, like, 30 pieces done in the last month.
People are placing bids in the art. I was talking with different people, even had a few classes come by.
I did a drawing of a medic holding the hand of a soldier who's been injured and for the title, I just called it Hold on. And I did another little bit larger painting of soldiers returning from being gassed on the frontlines of World War I. So, they are holding on to each other and they are led by one person into the field hospital.
One lady and also a gentleman in particular started crying because their grandfather was one of the first soldiers gassed in World War I. So, just to hear their stories as well was very emotional.
I wrote that poem slightly after I got back from overseas. The military is changing for the better when it comes to mental health. There's more a talk between peers because of it.
I find that more and more kind of looking for other outlets. So, maybe that's something the military can develop. But I think it's, again, just encouraging the mental health with the military.