About Hold the Line
Hold The Line is an annual art exhibition that explores the overlap of art and mental health, celebrates local artists and raises funds for Lifeline Loddon Mallee’s help-seeking and crisis support services.
About Lifeline Loddon Mallee
Lifeline Loddon Mallee is one of the 41 Lifeline centres across the country answering calls to the 13 11 14 crisis line.
We answered over 20,000 calls last year at our phone rooms in Bendigo and Mildura. We also offer one-on-one counselling, mental health training and community crisis support throughout the Loddon Mallee region. We are always here when you need to talk, 24 hours a day.
Call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.
More about Hold the Line
The first Hold The Line exhibition was held in 2025 and is both a fundraiser and a mental health initiative in it’s own right.
Research shows arts and creativity can be used as a health promotion tool to enhance communities’ mental wellbeing (1).
Art is increasingly recognised as a vital role in promoting positive outcomes for mental health (2).
At Lifeline we often see loneliness and isolation as drivers of those who call us. Art is a powerful tool to combat loneliness and isolation, both on an individual and community level.
Not only can art create connection with the viewer, letting them know they are not alone in their feelings, but simply attending an event like an exhibition opening provides feelings of social connectedness, commonality and belonging, and collective understanding (3).
As a health promotion tool, the value of arts and creativity can’t be understated.
(1) Davies C & Pescud M (2020) The arts and creative industries in health promotion
(2) Daykin, N., & Joss, T. (2016). Arts for health and wellbeing: An evaluation framework Public Health England.
(3) Perkins, R., Mason-Bertrand, A., Tymoszuk. Arts engagement supports social connectedness in adulthood: findings from the HEartS Survey. BMC Public Health (2021)
