The Coborn Centre for Adolescent Mental Health is an in-patient service for young people with complex and severe mental health difficulties. Caring for those aged between 12 and 18 years old, young people themselves have been involved in the design of their service which is a bright, colourful, friendly environment. Part of the Coborn’s ethos is to identify and develop the strengths and interests of the young people (rather than their difficulties), in order to aid recovery, which includes the fostering of creativity.
In 2012, 2013 and 2015, we designed and delivered a range of creative workshops to patients at The Coburn Centre. The sessions lasted approximately an hour to an hour and half and were delivered at the centre. Topics covered were: Photography & Haiku, Exploring Identity and Optical Art.
Date: 2015:
Facilitator: Ann Marie Ogah
Theme: Optical Art Movement
Over a 5 week period Rosetta Arts facilitated a series of creative workshops – for up to 12 young people and supporting staff – based around the 1960s Op Art movement, culminating in an exhibition of the young people’s work.
Creativity is seen by many to be essential to mental well-being. Theorists and practitioners often discuss the positive benefits of art making by way of the repetitive nature of activities, reparative functions and the symbolic holding qualities of art materials. With this in mind, art therapist Ann Marie Ogah incorporated the same mode of thinking, tailoring the sessions accordingly. A range of activities for patients were offered including: tile painting, mosaic work, and marbling which were all linked to the Op Art themes explored during the sessions
Within such a sensitive setting, a young person’s state of mind and current circumstances often determine their level of engagement. As a collective, the varying presentations and abilities of the group, meant it was better to provide sensory alternatives so all could take part in the tasks.
The flexibility and broad inclusiveness of the art making sessions allowed for those young people who had initial difficulty engaging, to be able to do so in a way of their choosing. The support staff were key to this project by encouraging the young people and staff to take part in side by side art making, seemingly making tasks more tangible for those who struggled to focus.
As a group we visited the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow where the young people were able to explore the grounds, and work on a design project based on their immediate environment. The engagement of the young people was enhanced by the support of the gallery educational officer who gave a session explaining the historical context to the life and works of William Morris. Furthermore, the visit folded into the themes around the repetitive nature of Op art design and pattern making.
Most individuals are sensitive to the stigma attached to mental health issues and adolescents are no exception and therefore the idea of holding an exhibition to display their body of work was initially met with resistance and fears of intrusion. However, the finished artworks that were were displayed at The Humble Gallery space at the Rosetta Arts, were vibrant and creative, truly reflections of the individuals who attended the sessions – and a celebration of the young people’s willingness to engage.
The Coborn Centre staff said:
“Over the summer holidays, the young people at the Coborn Centre really enjoyed working with an artist facilitator from Rosetta Art Centre.
The trip to the William Morris gallery at the start of the project was great, both as a chance to get out of the unit and visit a really nice building and gardens, as well as gain some understanding of a local artist’s work, and the significance of this.
When Rosetta’s facilitator came to visit the unit, the young people engaged really well in the activities she had planned – which were able to be graded and adapted to their individual needs, e.g. from colouring in a sheet to creating their own geometrical designs. The young people particularly enjoyed the tile painting session and using the oils. The final part of the project was to go to the Humble Gallery to see their work in an exhibition. This was a great ending to the project, as the young people were able to see their work in a professional exhibition, and also see it printed and displayed professionally. Young people particularly commented on how much they enjoyed seeing their work displayed, and how it had been printed and framed to make it look professional.
Working with an external organisation had positive effects on the approach and enthusiasm displayed by the young people in a space and place where they felt supported and safe”.
Young people at Cohborn Centre told us:
“We would love to take part in a similar art project next summer, it has been a good experience”
“I really enjoyed trying out different materials and techniques that we would not normally have access to at the Coborn”
“I felt really proud to see my work displayed in an exhibition”
