Open Arts provides welcoming art groups for people with mental health problems.
If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, depressed, isolated, excluded or recovering from other mental health problems then maybe an Open Arts group could help.
South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) have piloted Open Arts as a new Art initiative in response to national research led by Jenny Secker, the Trust’s Professor of Mental Health, that showed the benefits that the arts can have in improving mental health. Open Arts began in January 2008 and has proved to be a resounding success.
The aim of the project is to provide relaxing, welcoming art groups for people with mental health problems. 12 week art courses, with sessions in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, collage, print, textiles, clay, wire and photography take place in community venues across the whole of South Essex. The sessions are unpressurised and adapt to participants’ ability and interest, so students can work at the level that suits them. Participants can be referred by a mental health worker or they can self refer.
Later in the year due to popular demand Open Arts is branching out into other art forms. Watch this space for drama, creative writing, Tai Chi, dance, film, photography and other art forms.
Open Arts can help people in recovery from mental health problems, as well as in prevention of illness and isolation. The groups also aim to be socially inclusive by reducing stigma and working in partnership with other organisations. Participants are supported to find out about other learning opportunities of interest to help them move onto the next step.
Open Arts has been so successful that it was put forward for SEPT’s annual Quality Awards, which were held on 2nd October 2008. This is an Award that the Trust hosts every year to recognise new, innovative projects within the Trust that open up the variety of the services provided for mental health, drug and alcohol and learning disabilities.
The Awards were held at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon, where the 5 shortlisted projects presented their work, accompanied by an exciting show of dance and music. Amongst the 500 who attended the event, a whopping 80 Open Arts participants and their families came along to support the project. Open Arts students also put artworks into the exhibition that was on display at the Theatre as part of the event, many of whom had never previously exhibited.
Anna Walker, Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission presented the Awards, and was highly impressed with all of the work she saw throughout the night. Open Arts received the Silver Award which, together with the high calibre of the other projects and considering it has only been running since January 2008, was a brilliant result.
Referring to Jenny Secker’s research, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State, said recently at an Arts in Health Event:
A recent study commissioned by my department and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“Mental Health, social inclusion and arts: developing the evidence base”) has shown that participation in the arts leads to significant improvements in health, and that it can also boost self esteem, and reduce feelings of isolation and exclusion. And the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is currently looking at the benefits of offering arts therapy to patients with schizophrenia.’
This can only be good news for the Arts in Health, to have recognition of the benefits a project like this can offer. It looks as though the future may be bright…
For more information on Open Arts:
contact Kirsten Heydinrych
T 01277 239184
M 07949 440326
E kirsten.heydinrych@southessex-trust.nhs.uk
For more information about the research referred to above:
contact Jenny Secker Jenny.secker@anglia.ac.uk
Open Arts is funded by South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT), East of England Development Agency and South West Essex PCT. To view the Open Arts page on the SEPT website click here
Open Arts works in partnership with Essex County Council, Rochford District Council, Southend Borough Council, Thurrock Council and Castle Point Borough Council.
Well I just think this is fantastic. Well done
I came across this somewhere somehow in researching for a paper for school. I am interested in creating programs here in the US that will feature drumming and creating art which will be an opportunity to open dialog that could support people – especially folks whom are marginalized due to racial minority status and the associated racism.
It is heartening to see that people such as yourselves are doing such wonderful work. Thank YOU!!!