Finding Your Compass

This project explores a creative road to management and recovery from mental health conditions. The arts are used as both a communuications tool and as a mechanism for supporting mental wellbieng. GP referred patients tell their stories through movement and drawing (supporing lateral thinking and problem solving), their reflections (providing further detail in personal narratives) and film and still images (translating these experiences into and artistic outcome). In doing so the participannts gain self-confidence, which both reinforces a sense of belonging and raises awareness within the audience.

We are a memeber of the east Sussex based Narrative Medicine Faculty. The project works with medical professionals, artis and the academic institutions to explore the impact of the projects on the health and wellbeing of the general population, but also the training of future medical professionals. 

The project works with the NHS GP surgery, Brighton Health and Wellbieng Centre, who recently won the 'Innovators of the Year' award for their Healing Arts Programme at the National General Practive Awards 2014.

The project is an example of how public health can be delivered from Primary Care. Primary care is an ideal setting for Public Health delivery. It is familiar to patients, situated within their community and not associated with an one sector of society or group of people. In the UK Public health is largely delivered through local councils and many projects are underused as a result. 

Delivering public health messages in a creative and engaging way is demonstrated in this project. The use of narrative and individual expression of illness and recovery is a powerful tool which which important Public Health information can be communicated.