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

Abstract

Background: In line with recovery theories, psychosocial programmes for people diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI) should focus more on well-being and social connectivity outcomes rather than clinical symptoms. This paper assesses the impact of creative workshops participation on the psychological well-being, 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 were 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 well-being, 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.

Keyword:

• Mental health
• recovery
• visual arts
• museum
• schizophrenia