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In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the value of the arts in the field of mental health. Lis Blake and Joanna Steele look at some of the ways in which the arts can be used to build self-esteem in mental health service users.
Participation in the arts by mental health service (MHS) users and survivors can offer a range of benefits to them and to society as a whole. Through promoting self-confidence, increasing social contact, providing employment and training opportunities and combating stigma, the arts can be a valuable tool in tackling mental health issues. Not only can they help someone on the road back to good mental health, but there is also a wealth of talent and creativity amongst MHS users that can contribute to the enrichment of our communities.

Problems

A high level of support is a key element to successful and beneficial artistic work within mental health settings. One of the main factors in creating a successful working environment is to maintain artistic standards while generating an atmosphere that is relaxed enough for people to be able to cope. However, working as a MHS user in the arts can still be a massive struggle. It?s not uncommon that in taking up any paid work in the arts, the MHS user will lose his or her benefits. Working is hugely important to keeping MHS users well and to raising confidence and self esteem. But working too much, without regular time off, can result in getting ill. Jo Cox, a cellist who uses mental health services, says, ?Sometimes I need to take a week off, yet the present system won?t let me do this. If I work, I lose my benefits and then I lose my stability. If I lose my stability I am more likely to get ill. Also, as a musician, there are periods where there just isn?t work about. It?s those periods when I really need to have income benefit to keep me stable but with the present system you can?t just sign off and sign on again, which makes people not want to sign off in the first place. Basically, my benefit will be under threat if I don?t fit in exactly with the regulations, which are very restricting. Fortunately, I have finally got a disability officer who is very supportive and is trying to get me on a scheme where I do six months of test trading which doesn?t affect my benefit. Hopefully from this, I can become self employed. We?ll see??

Creative workshops

As well as having more flexible training and employment opportunities for MHS users who want to get back to work, there is also a great need for regular creative opportunities for MHS users who have been long-term sick and unemployed. Workshops run by arts organisations in partnership with mental health support organisations in local community support and hospital settings can offer people the chance to become involved in the arts. ?Rise at Rethink?, a mental health support organisation based in Southend-on-Sea, has hosted one such Theatre Resource workshop. One of their workers, Sandra Ridings, agreed that informality and a lack of pressure were key factors in encouraging clients to get involved: ?The workshop enabled clients to socially interact with each other and gain new skills, it gave them confidence to do things they might not do and to join in when they might not have done usually. A lot of our clients are scared of commitment but because there was no pressure they actually got engaged and found they?d achieved something. Many don?t join in because they feel they won?t be able to finish something. Having short accessible workshops with a high-quality result is very important as they can achieve something quickly.?

At workshops, it?s important that staff are lively, friendly and helpful, but not overpowering, thereby encouraging participants to get involved. It is vital that projects are set up in venues known to participants where they feel safe and that are easy for them to reach and where their key workers are also there to support them. When setting up a project, the needs of the participants themselves should be held first and foremost, making sure that the pace is correct for them, that there are regular breaks and that a counsellor is available when necessary. Projects should be structured in short, bite-sized blocks where participants are free to drop in and out of activities as necessary, and they should all be designed in consultation with the users and the workers themselves. It?s important to work with artists who are MHS users themselves and who can thus act as strong role models. Even on a short project it is useful to have a high-quality record of the work for participants to keep such as postcards or mugs displaying the art work, creative writing, framed work or CDs of music. Time should always be set aside to share and celebrate the work created. However, for taster workshops to have a long-term impact, a long-term involvement is required, from the arts organisations. There is a massive need for long-term activities at local settings. Not all MHS users immediately have the confidence to travel to a new place to work with new people. They need sustained projects in their local community settings.

Sustainability

Becoming involved in the arts is beneficial to all socially excluded groups; however, a lot more needs to be done for MHS users in order for them to be able to create a significant artistic and cultural voice, and to build opportunities in self-development, creativity and employment. Work needs to be ongoing and regular. At present, funding is sparse and sporadic. Long-term funding needs to be obtained so that regular creative activities can be sustained over longer periods of time. The arts can offer a massive amount to MHS users and through involvement in the arts many of them find re-engagement with the world around them and take steps on the road to better health. Perhaps the last word should go to Paula Thompson, a mental health system survivor who first met Theatre Resource six years ago on a writing workshop, which, she says, ?made me realise that I could do something, that I had a voice.? Paula now works as a writer, performer and project worker, campaigning against the stigma of mental health issues. She recently performed in, and co-devised, Theatre Resource?s new comedy ?At home with the Cripps?, which has just completed a national tour.

Lis Blake is a Project Worker and Joanna Steele is the Marketing Co-ordinator for Theatre Resource.
t: 01277 365626;
e: info@theatre-resource.org.uk;
w: http://www.theatre-resource.org.uk