Artists in Mind (AiM) is running a series of creative workshops at the Dales Unit at the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax.
The two hour workshops will be held each month and aim to develop the creative and expressive abilities of adults and older people with acute mental health issues using the services at Calderdale Royal Hospital.
Service users will be supported to explore and experiment with their creative ideas and will be given professional guidance by artists to produce work which will eventually form an exhibition of the group’s work.
AiM will provide one-to-one creative consultations to service users as well as a creative surgery for staff to help develop ideas that emerge from the project.
Talking about the project, Lynette Mundy, occupational therapist on Ashdale Ward at the Dales Unit said: “Whilst on the wards, individuals have demonstrated their capacity for creativity, but staff do not always have the capability or confidence to promote individual creative journeys at a higher level”. Artists in Mind aim to provide such support and help service users initiative and develop their creative journey.
Through the project, AiM hopes that participants will increase their confidence through their newly acquired skills and improved communication methods. They also hope to see a reduction in re-admission to the service.