Arts and Mental Health Strategy for
Cornwall
and Isles of Scilly (2006 – 2009)
Summary
This Arts and Mental Health Strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly encompasses both the full range of creative practice – including music, dance, performance, crafts, visual art, writing and many other art forms – and spans the scope of mental health. The overall aim of the strategy is to improve and promote mental health and well-being through creative activities. The strategy is a further development of the Turning the Tide project which is supported by Cornwall’s Mental Health Forum.
The strategy acknowledges the evidence that the arts can have a positive effect on well-being and quality of life. For example, art works can be used as an effective vehicle for promoting positive images of mental health. Engagement in the arts can increase social inclusion, through the involvement and creation of work in arts projects and in being part of a wider community.
The strategy sets out how creative activity can:
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promote mental health
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tackle stigma and ignorance about mental illness
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improve mental health and well-being of people with a wide range of mental health problems
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sustain people with severe and/or enduring mental illness, providing opportunities for service users to create and exhibit art work across the county.
The strategy recognises that there are already a range of projects and activities that are addressing some of these issues. The aim of the strategy is to develop greater cohesion between individual projects, to reduce unnecessary duplication of activity and to respond to identified gaps. It supports the development and sustainability of a wide range of arts projects across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly that address these issues.
Main recommendations
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Appointment of an Arts and Mental Health co-coordinator for
Cornwall
and Isles of Scilly. This appointment is key to delivery of the remainder of the strategy. The Arts and Mental Health Co-coordinator will work closely with Arts for Health Cornwall, Cornwall Mental Health Forum and the range of service providers to ensure that best use is made of all resources and appropriate linkages and networks are supported.
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Development of Arts on Prescription projects. These projects, based on successful models that have operated in other parts of the country and in the West of Cornwall, aim to provide non-pharmacological approaches to the treatment of mild to moderate mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
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Mental health service users cite the lack of safe studio spaces to develop their creative practice a major barrier. The strategy advocates for the creation and identification of such spaces to be made available to people who are living with or recovering from mental illness in the community. Given the geographical nature of Cornwall, it is likely that these spaces will need to be identified within existing arts buildings but there may also be opportunities to develop new facilities. Arts for Health Cornwall is keen to work in partnership with others to pursue such opportunities.
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Mental health and well-being can also be supported through the creation of an appropriate healing environment. The strategy advocates for improvements in health and social care settings which will promote mental health and well-being. This work should focus on specific mental health care settings, both in-patient and community settings, on primary care and on community and voluntary organizations which provide services and support to people who may have mental health problems e.g. hostels for homeless people, drug and alcohol services.
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Development of a range of projects which tackle stigma and ignorance surrounding mental illness. In particular, the strategy advocates for ongoing work on mental health to be embedded into the curriculum of further education students on creative courses.
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Development of training and education opportunities for creative practitioners in working with mental health issues.
Evaluation
All projects should be developed with clear aims and outcomes, which will aid the process of evaluation. This work will add to the growing evidence base on the effectiveness of creative interventions. The overall strategy will undergo annual monitoring and review with a formal evaluation at the end of 3 years. This formal evaluation may form part of a commission from Arts for Health Cornwall with an academic partner.