HOW CREATIVITY HAS IMPROVED BLAIR’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
creative:tandem is our multi-artform project with young people admitted to mental health units due to serious conditions including psychotic, depressive, anxiety and eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thinking. For five days in August 2024, Create artist Sarah Grant delivered visual art workshops at Galaxy House, an inpatient service in Manchester helping young people with a range of conditions including eating disorders, Pervasive Arousal Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS), OCD and Psychosis.
We spoke to Blair (17) about her experience on this project. Blair was admitted to Galaxy House in May 2024.
Blair’s Story
“I have PAWS, which is Pervasive Arousal Withdrawal Syndrome, classified under FND (Functional Neurological Disorder). I have been in Galaxy House for nearly 18 weeks. I had appendicitis last year and then I was unable to walk and paralysed. We thought I was going to get better, so I was discharged. I had carers, all of that. But then my symptoms just regressed. I had a nasogastric tube and they were looking for external rehabilitation places. Galaxy House fitted my needs, it’s a very specialised facility. My symptoms have definitely improved here and I’ve obtained a much better quality of life.”
THE VISUAL ART WORKSHOP
“We’ve been doing various creative tasks for the week. We did some acrylic painting, art using nature as inspiration, experimental watercolours, clay modelling with terracotta clay, and spray painting. We were free to do whatever inspired us. I liked the free reign given to the young people and how it like dispels the conception that art has to be one specific thing.”
“Working as a group was quite fun. I think it showed the group’s dynamics in a very different way. Art can harness what others are feeling, which can be quite satisfying.”
THE joys of creating
“Being creative has made me feel very fulfilled because I can achieve something tangible, which is not linked to something academic. I think it’s good to have a safe space where you can contribute different creative ideas that don’t have to be intellectually judged.
“[When creating] I feel satisfied as it’s relaxing and very enjoyable.”
“It’s been nice that we had a whole week dedicated to different forms of art.”
TAKEAWAYS
“Taking part in this project, I learned that art can be quite relaxing and therapeutic and that it can also help with pain. Obviously, I rely on painkillers, but art can calm your body down, which is quite nice.”
“Projects like these can help people in hospital see a different perspective. We can see the beauty in the very mundane things through art. And it differentiates our days. It’s also nice informal environment. We can interact with nurses more casually, because they’re not writing notes on you.”
creative:tandem is funded by The Prudence Trust