Much less is understood about the role of arts and creativity for people with a severe mental illness or SMI (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder 1 & 2, schizoaffective disorders and psychosis) than for common mental disorders like anxiety and depression. There are also fewer participatory arts and creative opportunities for people in this group.

This new review - Arts and creativity for people with a severe mental illness - seeks to start to address this, providing an overview of what we currently know about the ways in which arts and creativity affect the lives of those who live with a severe mental illness. It also poses some thought-provoking questions, such as:

• How can arts and creativity for everyone be positively impacted by those with an SMI? Can we move beyond simply ‘inclusion’?
• What does ‘everyday creativity’ looks like for people with an SMI?
• And could participatory arts even help us reappraise serious conditions by offering a unique view of the emotional and creative worlds of people living with an SMI?

Please join us on 3 May 2022 2pm-3pm for a chance to hear more about the research and ask questions of the researchers!

We will hear from three members of the research team:

• Hannah Zeilig and Julian West, Unmapped
• Corinna Hackmann, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

A Zoom link will be available on registration.

The report was commissioned by the Baring Foundation and is available here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Baring Foundation