The artworks range from paintings, sketches, poems to photographs and will be displayed at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre from Wednesday, October 15. An official launch will start at 5.30pm that day.

Artists were encouraged to work from the the theme for Mental Health Awareness month, 'Be YouNique'.

Partners in Recovery support facilitator Arno Drygala said the exhibition was a positive thing for the community.

"The exhibition is trying to reflect the fact that people with mental illnesses are also very talented and creative," he said.

"It's about focusing on the positive aspects of mental illness. A person is more than their mental illness, they have incredible talent as well."

Mental Health Awareness month will kick off with a community barbecue at Queanbeyan Park on Friday, October 10. The event will begin at noon and information about local services and a free sausage sizzle will be available.

"The purpose of Mental Health Awareness month is to raise awareness in the general community about people with mental illnesses," Mr Drygala said.

"It's to reduce stigma, foster social cohesion and increase support towards people with a mental illness."

The Mental Health Awareness month activities has been organised by the recently established mental health support interagency. The interagency refers to a network of local services working together including Partners In Recovery, Queanbeyan City Council, The Disability Trust, Richmand PRA, Ability Links, Uniting Care and HOME in Queanbeyan.