A Strategy for SLaM
to develop the arts in
mental health,
wellbeing & recovery
Why are the arts important to SLaM?
Because they help people
get well and stay well.
Key points for the Arts Strategy
1. Identify SLaM’s
strengths and
weaknesses in the arts,
and set realistic and
achievable goals
2. Need to raise and
sustain awareness
Trustwide regarding the
power and potential of
the arts, with the support
of the Trust Executive
Our consultation and findings
• Consulted extensively with service users and
staff / providers, Trustwide
• Identified key themes
• Conducted in-depth research of current
literature and practice
Themes from the
Service user consultation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Therapeutic
Creativity
Stigma
Access
Financial
Affirmation & Recognition
Relationships
Evidence related to the SIR Strategy
Fostering relationships
Social functioning,
networks relationships,
connecting.
“Art as a connector, with
and to things other than
oneself”
(Thou Art)
Peer support, belonging,
being valued
Partnerships:
with wider arts world
and public and
mainstream
Enhancing staff &
service user
involvement, coproduction/ co-design &
development
Activities that bring
people together –
exhibitions, events and
contemporary art
practice
Public engagement
Enhancing healing
environment- shared
public space
“Allows new spaces in
which to be, and new
relationships through
which to rethink and
reconstruct themselves”
(Thou Art)
Promoting wellbeing
Offering treatments
Improving social
inclusion
Improving SU experience
Easing/ reducing
symptoms
Formal treatment by
fully trained Arts
Psychotherapists- Arts
Therapies
Peer support,
friendships, community,
brings people together
Creative personal space
Occupational Therapy
Enhancing control and
Empowerment
Informal and formal arts
activities in SLaM
Sense of self: building
self esteem; identity;
User led arts
organisationsworkshops/ events/
activities
Connection art & form of
spirituality, “flow” (Thou
art)
Connecting with abilities,
learning new skills;
Recognition/ value/
Affirmation
Expression (words can’t
do) & communication
Purpose, motivation,
focus
Transforming illness/
Having time out
Improving staff
involvement, morale &
development
Way “to right lives” and
“search for substance”
and meaningful sense of
“I”. (Thou Art)
Artist led workshops
Workshops in arts
institutions, museums,
galleries
Arts Education &
Training:
Higher and Further
Education
Valued role (as artist not
a SU) and recognition
Rebuilding self esteem
and identity as a ‘well
person’ and capable
Sense of belonging and
cohesive communities
Feeling involved & ways
to get involved
Contemporary art as
social practice
Lead public engagement
& MH promotion ie
against stigma
Outcomes
Consultation & content
analysis
Service user narratives
MWIA
Thou Art Film & Research
Arts Therapies evidenceNICE guidance in
psychosis
Published research from
Academic arts in health
Enhancing the healing
environment
Arts organisations
feedback/ evidence
PbR/ Honos
Expanding horizons and
purpose
OT & other outcome
measures
Preserve life stories &
experiences
SROI (social return on
investment)
Provide professional
platform for showing &
appreciating art
Public feedback – MH
promotion/ challenging
stigma
Practical support, i.e.
mentoring, new roles,
tasks
Reduction in revolving
door
Accessible and
acceptable
Patient experience of
mental health services
improved through arts.
(Picker instit)
Context from other drivers
•
“For a more co-ordinated integrated set of services;
we need the workforce equipped for challenges,
and improved quality and capacity..”
(Exploring our futures in health and social care in Lambeth &
Southwark)
•
“Spending on arts & health is and should be seen
as a legitimate, integral part of good health care
and good staff management, and entirely
appropriate for NHS activity & investment”
(DH 2007)
•
“Lambeth will be a vibrant & creative place to live,
work and learn”
(Lambeth mental wellbeing programme)
•
Lewisham values: sense of place, creative
economy, creativity & skills, active cohesive
communities
(Lewisham arts strategy)
•
“Community connections, reaching across place,
interests and identity, are largely untapped assets
that can promote wellbeing and address social
exclusion”
(RSA- The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, manufactures
& Commerce )
Why should SLaM support this?
The Arts Strategy will:
1.
Develop SLaM’s existing
collective intelligence
2.
Improve patient experience
3.
Reduce “revolving door care”
4.
Attract incoming funding
5.
Improve service user
involvement
6.
Further SLaM’s reputation
Example of SLaM’s involvement in the
London Creativity & wellbeing week June 2012
•
Exhibitions: Bethlem Gallery and SGDP @ IOP
•
Poetry party at Ladywell Unit celebrating the project on
the wards
•
Training for artists @ The Albany -Jointly delivered by
SLaM & Lewisham Education Arts Network (LEAN),
commissioned by Lewisham Council
•
Showcase of music produced by service users from
Camden and SLaM, with Key Changes and Raw Sounds
•
Seminar on arts in health and commissioning @ Tate
Modern: presenting SLaM arts strategy
•
CoolTan Arts events
SLaM's strengths
in the arts in mental health
1.
Formal treatment by fully trained Arts
Psychotherapists
2.
Range of formal/ informal arts activities in SLaM
3.
High level of community arts activities run by arts and
service user providers
4.
Strong links to involve service users in arts training
and education
5.
Motivated wide network of “activators” and engaged
external partners
6.
Well-established ethos & practice of service user
involvement and peer support
7.
Highly regarded exhibiting resources: i.e. Bethlem
gallery & Museum & Archives & IOP
8.
Reputation of SLaM as leader in arts & mental health
9.
Charitable funds to access
SLaM's weaknesses
in the arts in mental health
1.
Vulnerability of arts posts/
projects within SLaM
2.
Dichotomy: Service users
greatly value arts whereas staff
often see arts a marginal luxury
3.
Intrinsic dependence of
strategy on frontline staff and
managers
4.
High pressure on staff in time of
great change
5.
Personalisation changes
STRATEGIC GOAL 1
Building on strengths: Infrastructure
•
Widen remit of Arts Development
Manager to Trustwide
•
Formalise and develop
representative steering group
•
Work closely with SLaM Lead Arts
Therapies adviser
•
Timescales and targets over 5
years
•
Implement evaluation
mechanisms
•
Formalise budget
Examples of additional funds supported
by the arts development manager*
Funds raised
CoolTan Arts,
HAT (Healing Arts Team),
Mental Fight Club: Dragon Cafe
MHOAD & Tate Modern project
Thou Art film & research
Widening participation to University
Approx total: £652,000
Pending funding in partnership
Outreach & access to museums in Europe
Impact Art Fair in London 2013
London Arts & mental health Festival 2014
Approx total £268,000
* Jo Van Den Bosch coordinated The National Theatre Drama Therapy/ Warhorse
project for MHOAD. £25,000 was funded by Guys & St Thomas’ Charity
STRATEGIC GOAL 2
Building on strengths:
SLaM’s Inner Activators
Develop motivated network of
strategy activators:
•
Key frontline and managerial
staff
•
Service users
•
Peer supporters
•
Champions i.e. Consultant
Champion
STRATEGIC GOAL 3
Building on strengths: Connectivity
Facilitate and develop links
and partnerships
• Service user arts and
community providers
• Arts Institutions and
Colleges
• Research networks
• Charitable fundsGSTT charity is developing
a new arts strategy
STRATEGIC GOAL 4
Addressing weaknesses:
Raise Staff Awareness
•
Promotional strategy
•
Workshops and training
sessions
•
Identify and visit key
frontline hospital and
community teams
•
Provide and promote
accessible online resources
Acknowledgements
Thanks so much to all those who were
consulted, and contributed incredibly to
this Arts Strategy for SLaM: service
users, staff, arts providers and partners.
Thanks to the tremendous dedication
and passion of the steering group who
co-designed and produced this Arts
Strategy to reflect and harness the
continuum from Arts Therapies to arts
practice in SLaM and in the community.
Thanks to the artists and arts projects,
for the beautiful images to illustrate this
presentation, including Bethlem art
studio and Art Gallery, the Thou Art film
and research project, Green Shoots
calendar project and the War Horse
dramatherapy project with the National
Theatre.
Helen Shearn, D Rosier, Vanessa Bray,
Sarah Wheeler, Jo Van Den Bosch, Julia Bland,
Beth Elliott, Michaela Ross et al.
August 2012
A Strategy for SLaM
to develop the arts in
mental health,
wellbeing & recovery
Why are the arts important to SLaM?
Because they help people
get well and stay well.