SDC has a particular interest in the link between the arts and mental health.  We believe that attending or participating in arts events can be a means of enhancing quality of life by promoting good mental health and wellbeing via social engagement, enjoyment and escapism. We also believe that the experience of having mental health problems can impose multiple barriers to participating in arts and cultural activities.

We have recently conducted various projects linking the arts and mental health and wellbeing, and information about some of our work in this area can be found below:

Arts accessibility for people with mental health problems (2010)
SDC feel that more should be done to make arts venues accessible to people with mental health problems.  SDC has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund (Investing in Ideas) and the Steel Charitable Trust to consult with people who have lived experience of mental health problems and work with arts venues with a view to producing a good practice guide for enhancing accessibility and encouraging attendance for people with mental health problems.

Project Spotlight 2 - Arts Accessibility Needs

Final Report of Consultation

Arts and wellbeing (2009 – 2010)
SDC received funding from the Big Lottery Fund (Awards for all) to conduct a large scale quantitative research project amongst the Scottish population to explore the link between arts attendance and participation, and levels of mental health and wellbeing.  We found that attendance of and participation in the arts is an activity that is perceived to have multiple life-enhancing benefits.  Despite the fact that arts attendance and participation can be good for your mental health, those with poor mental health were significantly less likely to be arts attenders or participators.

Project Spotlight 1 - Arts and Mental Health

Community referral to the arts (2009 – 2010)
SDC is working with the Scottish Arts Council to promote the development of community referral and social prescribing for the arts in Scotland, as a means to broaden access to and engagement with the arts and to improve mental health and wellbeing in local communities (with Art in Hospital, Art Angel and PMA: Positive Mental Attitudes).  The project involves tackling inequalities and raising awareness in communities by; promoting increased access to and participation in the arts, developing a framework for community referral to the arts and identifying the mental health and wellbeing impacts of arts access and participation.

Healthy Reading Midlothian (2010)
SDC are currently undertaking an evaluation of a “Books on Prescription” service called Healthy Reading Midlothian.

Universal Comedy Evaluation (2010)
SDC have been commissioned to evaluate Universal Comedy’s tailored comedy taster workshops and courses which promote and support recovery through regular structured activity.  These sessions are designed to work with people with lived experience of mild to moderate mental health problems, who also face barriers to vocational training, learning and further education because they live within identified Regeneration Agency areas.

Culture and Sport Glasgow, and Mental Health (2009)
SDC was commissioned by Glasgow City Council to develop a bespoke training course to promote the mainstreaming of mental health in Community Planning, and to help facilitate the social inclusion and community integration of people with mental health problems.  The aim of the project was to enhance awareness and understanding of the importance of mental health and wellbeing to improving Glasgow’s health and the role of front line services in their promotion.  A training course was prepared, based on research findings from five focus groups with mental health service users and carers, and eight depth interviews conducted with senior staff representatives from Glasgow City Council services.  The training course was delivered to representatives of four Glasgow City Council services or arms length services, including Culture and Sport Glasgow (now Glasgowlife!)  In the case of Culture and Sport Glasgow, discussions focused on promoting mental health at a community level and in providing leisure opportunities that could assist with recovery from mental health problems.

Survivarts evaluation (2009)
Survivarts, run by West Lothian Council, aims to provide adult survivors of sexual abuse with regular arts activity to improve their general wellbeing.  SDC conducted an evaluation of the process and impact of Survivarts.

Final report of Evaluation

Contact details

Ruth Stevenson
ruth@sdcmh.org.uk