HeadSpace 09
Brief description:
HeadSpace is a celebration of the positive mental health and wellbeing mulit- arts projects that enrich Glasgow’s North East, harnessing the character, energy and creativity of individuals and local community groups.
It is a partnership between Platform and Positive Mental Attitudes and we are a national lead partner in the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, the worlds largest public health and anti-stigma event.
Aims:
- HeadSpace provides an opportunity to participate in high quality arts events and workshops and/or attend a wide range of events from large to small including film,music,literature.
- HeadSpace is a showcase of local community and professional arts celebrating mental health and wellbeing.
- HeadSpace raises awareness about the positive benefits that participation in the arts can have on mental health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
- To reduce stigma and promote social inclusion.
What’s happening:
Each year the PMA arts groups and partner organisations come together to create a stimulating programme of events to showcase their talents and engage the local community. The annual event takes over every stage, wall and space in arts venue Platform to create a mix of inspired artwork, writing, films and thought-provoking theatre and performance.
HeadSpace takes place in October each year and this year will run for the whole of October
Evaluation and feedback:
An evaluation of the arts festival demonstrated that events such as Headspace that focused on personal experience narrative had a particular impact on reducing stigma and promoting recovery. This provides support for promoting community arts programmes, which as a result of positive personal contact have been shown to promote recovery amongst people who access services as well as reducing stigma within the audience and event organisers. This is demonstrated in quotes from audience members at Headspace:
“Mental health is common in society”
“People with mental health problems can suffer silently”
“Now I can talk to others about mental health”
Quinn N, Shulman A, Knifton L and Byrne P (2010) The Impact of a National Mental Health Arts and Film Festival on Stigma and Recovery. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
Partners:
- Positive Mental Attitudes (PMA)
- Platform (Glasgow East Arts Company)
- Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival
