Impact of creative workshops for people with severe mental illness: art as a means of recovery

Saavedra, Javier; Arias, S.; Crawford, Paul; Perez, Elvira

Abstract

Background: In line with recovery theories, psychosocial programs for people diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI) should focus more on wellbeing and social connectivity outcomes rather than clinical symptoms. This paper assesses the impact of creative workshops participation on the psychological wellbeing, social connectivity and subjective experience of people diagnosed with SMI.
Method: After participating in a creative workshop in a museum, 19 people, including service users, keyworkers, the art facilitator and a psychologist were interviewed. Four observers participated in the workshop and provided information about the creative process by means of a discussion group. Data was analysed in accordance with thematic analysis methodology and triangulated in order to obtain reliability.
Results: Five essential categories were identified: learning process, social connection, psychological wellbeing, institutional change and mutual recovery.
Conclusions: Creative activities may cause a transformation of the image of dysfunction associated with mental illness as well as promoting health and recovery.

Citation

Saavedra, J., Arias, S., Crawford, P., & Perez, E. (2018). Impact of creative workshops for people with severe mental illness: art as a means of recovery. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 10(3), 241-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2017.1381130

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 6, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Oct 9, 2017
• Publication Date: 2018
• Deposit Date: Oct 4, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 10, 2018
• Journal: Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice
• Print ISSN: 1753-3015
• Electronic ISSN: 1753-3023
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 241-256
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2017.1381130
• Keywords: Mental Health; Recovery; Visual Arts; Museum; Schizophrenia
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/887010
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17533015.2017.1381130
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice on 9 October 2017 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17533015.2017.1381130