NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GG&C) is proud to announce its partnership with the Mental Health Foundation to present five events at its hospitals, as part of this year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF).
The SMHAF is one of the world’s leading arts events dedicated to mental health, offering a platform for people to create and share art about mental health and explore how the arts and creativity can support people to live mentally healthier lives.
Starting on World Mental Health Day, Thursday 10th October, and running throughout October, NHS GG&C Health Improvement will host free events and workshops exploring the festival’s theme of ‘In/Visible’ at Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Stobhill Mental Health Campus, and Leverndale Hospital, Glasgow.
Event highlights include:
- Gartnavel Royal Hospital showcasing its latest and greatest in ‘Art in the Gart’ across multiple spaces and featuring a mix of patient’s gallery-style artworks and messages, as well as an afternoon of relaxed musical performances from Common Wheel.
- Leverndale Hospital featuring a collaboration with Glasgow Museums, displaying art from Joyce Laing’s ‘Art Extraordinary’ collection.
- Stobhill Mental Health Campus showcasing a collaborative mixed-media collage, encompassing words, creative sewing and embroidery, painting, and illustrative storytelling to express what makes them feel In/Visible.
Dr Trevor Lakey, NHSGGC Health Improvement & Inequalities Manager – Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs, explained the importance of healing arts in Greater Glasgow and Clyde: “Originally, started as an NHSGGC mental health program in 2007, it is remarkable to see this festival accessible at a national level thanks to the Mental Health Foundation and partners. Healing arts are a vital part of our approach to mental health care, and we support a wide variety of arts in the community projects, from painting and knitting groups, to singing and dancing performance groups. All provide therapeutic benefits and foster a sense of community and creativity among patients and staff. That’s hugely important.
“We would also like to share a special thanks to our volunteers, many who are from artistic backgrounds to help coordinate the sessions with patients to deliver artworks. Without their work alongside that of our nursing teams, these events would not be possible,” he said.
