ARTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
We are a non-profit association that provides individuals interested in both arts and mental health the opportunity to explore, experience, and learn together.
We offer a diverse range of activities. We provide art workshops, talks (by academics and professional artists), community-based art programmes and psychoeducation via informative articles, research summary updates.
Art Exhibition
Bridging Minds
A Collaborative Arts Exhibition Exploring Psychosis
📍 Oxford Laboratory for Neuroimmunology and Immunopsychiatry at the University of Oxford is hosting a 3-day exhibition ‘Bridging Minds: A Collaborative Arts Exhibition Exploring Psychosis’ in June.
🖼️ The "Bridging Minds" project aims to support a meaningful dialogue between patients with psychosis, researchers, and the public, through a collaborative arts exhibition. The three-day exhibition - hosted by St John's College of Oxford University in June 2025 - will showcase visual artworks created by patients and researchers. It will conclude with a series of short talks by patients and researchers in the field to inform and educate the public on psychosis and schizophrenia.
🖌️Click here to make an art submission.
Event Highlights
paper making workshop
In this workshop, participants engaged in a thoughtful process of writing down their joys🥳 and challenges🤯. Followed by the symbolic act of shredding these notes, representing the release of past burdens and the cherishing of positive memories. The shredded paper were used to create new, handmade paper, symbolising new beginnings. Additional materials like pigments🎨 and dried flowers💐 were available for personalisation. The new pieces of paper were used by participants to write down new year goals
Feature
UCL EDUCATION AWARDs
The "Acing Mental Health Through Art" project funded by UCL ChangeMakers has been featured in the UCL Education Awards 2023 Booklet.
"In 2023, ARTSMH was further supported by the UCL ChangeMakers Continuation Fund to:
1) Sustain the good work and
2) Widen student engagement beyond the Institute of Education ... " Click to read more
Community Programme
ARTSMH x outward
via UCL SU Volunteering Service
This program is a collaborative effort between Outward and ARTSMH, facilitated by the UCL SU Volunteering Service. Over the course of two months, we offered a series of engaging art workshops (digital art & painting), psychoeducation and cyber safety education.
Click to find out more about Outward. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you're interested in collaborating with us!
Click the button below to see our programme highlight.
Insights
PAPER RECOMMENDATION
Transforming Lives on Stage: The Power of Participatory Theatre in Mental Health Recovery - Cui Cu
Discussion primarily based on Torrissen and Stickley (2017) - Participatory Theatre and Mental Health Recovery: a Narrative Inquiry
Over the last century, experimental theatre pioneers such as Artaud, Grotowski, Boal, and Brooks have significantly enriched our comprehension of the therapeutic aspects of drama and theatrical endeavors（Schechner, 2017). These practitioners, in various ways, have emphasized the importance of creativity, play, and acting as essential components for the wellbeing of both individuals and societies (Jones, 2007). They suggested in the healing and transformative potential of theatre, advocating that acting allows individuals to explore and expand their range of roles, enabling them to approach old roles in new, healthier ways.... [click button below to read more]
Student Article
Could Museums Improve Young People’s Wellbeing-
Insights from a workshop
Do you love visiting museums? I really do! I believe they are the perfect place to endure cold, dark and long winter days. You can tour around the galleries for hours, make some sketches and potentially even touch some historical objects. Furthermore, museums can widen your horizons as you can learn so many things. However, as a psychology geek and a young adult, museums interest me from another perspective. I am curious about the potential of museums in improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
In the context of arts and health research, engagement with arts is categorized into five domains: performing arts (e.g., music, dance); visual arts (e.g., sculpture, painting); literature (e.g., writing, reading); culture (e.g., visiting museums, going to festivals); and digital arts (e.g., filmmaking) (Fancourt & Finn, 2019)...
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