Kirklees services showcase Creative Minds
People in Kirklees who use mental services provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are showcasing their creative talent throughout February at a special exhibition at Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield.
Service users from Pathways day service in Mirfield and residents at Enfield Down in Honley are collaborating with Kirklees organisations Hoot and AiM to stage a ‘who you are’ art exhibition.
The collaboration is part of the Trust’s Creative Minds strategy, which underlines the Trust’s commitment to having a creative approach to service delivery as well as promoting more opportunities for individuals/groups to develop and grow creatively.
Creative approaches can achieve high quality outcomes for people who use health services. The importance of engagement and involvement is highlighted and barriers between staff and service users can be broken down, levelling relationships.
The use of creative activities in healthcare has been shown to increase self-esteem, provide a sense of purpose, develop social skills, help community integration and improve service users’ quality of life.
Hoot and AIM (Artists in Mind) are working together to deliver a range of creative arts projects to enhance the health and wellbeing of people who experience, or are at risk of experiencing, mental health difficulties.
The artwork on display at the theatre will be from people who use services to help with mental health problems. Creative approaches are used as part of their recovery and the exhibition will be an opportunity to show their creative talents.
Work from Pathways will consist of digital photography and demonstrate an individual’s journey through pictures. Enfield Down residents have produced three human silhouettes as part of the display offering a creative way for service users to express how they feel about themselves.
Speaking about using creative approaches a Pathways regular said, "Finding a way to express how I felt before the group I found very difficult, I had lost the sense of depth, I had lost what mattered. To stand behind the camera and narrow down the detail started to bring the important things in life back to me. Participating in the group has been so worthwhile and beneficial, it has helped my confidence and self-esteem to the point where through my eyes the world is beautiful again."
The exhibition will run from 7th February to 10th March at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen Street, Huddersfield and is free for anyone to attend. A special launch evening will also take place on Thursday 9th February at 7.30 pm.
The theatre is open for viewing Monday to Saturday 9.30 to 5pm (or 9.30pm if there is an evening performance). For information about accessibility contact the theatre box office on 01484 425282.
More information about Creative Minds can be found at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/creativeminds