Mental Health Matters through Restorative Art Erasmus Project

Project Title

Mental Health Matters through Restorative Art

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

The World Health Organisation called for mental health to be treated as everyone’s responsibility. It does not only affect the lives of people living with mental health problems, and their carers, but also the productivity of society as a whole. In many countries, mental illness is the leading cause of disability, responsible for 30-40% of chronic sick leave and costing some 3% of GDP. More common than diabetes, cancer or heart disease, mental illnesses fill up to 21% of all hospital beds at any given time. The need for effective approaches to treating people with severe mental illness is often a matter of life or death. 1 in 10 people diagnosed with schizophrenia and 1 in 5 with bipolar illness will end in suicide. People suffering from mental illness and especially those who live in mental health structures are in the forefront of socially disadvantaged groups, suffering more over from social stigmatization and marginalization. These people have also been suffering from societal injustices.

Although art’s healing effect on mental health is being acknowledged more and more, it is not an optional therapeutic approach for most of mental health structures in many European Countries. Moreover, even though, there is an obvious need of more contemporary approaches which will possibly reduce the use of medicines, most of the structures are being stuck to old protocols avoiding trying alternative methodological approaches and routines, as a result of ignorance or being afraid to try something new. The potential and benefits of combining therapeutic art with restorative justice are still not translated into educational material and programmes leaving many adult learners and professionals in the field unaware.

Mental Health Matters through Restorative Art (MHM) aims to respond to this gap by bringing together a cross-sector, strategic partnership of 6 familiar and not so familiar with Erasmus organisations to support innovation in the adult education field by creating, piloting and disseminating educational material and tools tailored to the needs and realities of mental health professionals, restorative justice practitioners and artists in the participating countries (the UK, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Hungary) and across Europe. MHM will also design and accredit e-courses that will enhance the skills and knowledge of adult learners, supporting in this way the setting up of, and access to, upskilling pathways.

The project consists of 4 Intellectual Outputs designed to meet its long-term goals:
1 Training Manual on the use of Restorative Art in Mental Health, encouraging cooperation between the participant countries. It will provide us with a local and comparative picture of the use of restorative art in mental health structures among the participating countries as well as the ways in which art is exploited in these structures.
1 Training programme and CPD accredited e-course on the inclusion of restorative art in mental health structures (for mental health professionals, mental health structures’ coordinators, mental health carers and restorative justice practitioners). It will give to our target group the knowledge skills, competences and attitudes to include art in mental health structure’s routine in order to improve the lives of mentally ill people living in these structures
1 Training programme and CPD accredited e-course on the use of art as a relief and restorative tool for people living in mental health structures. The programme is expected to give emerging artists the knowledge, competences and attitudes to be included in the routine of mental health structures and also to use these skills and competences in order to find new career prospects
1 “Mental Health Matters in Action” E-book that will include and present the artworks that will have been emerged during the piloting phase and throughout the project. IO4 serves the broader planning of MHM and as a result will further involve emerging artists and healthcare and restorative justice practitioners with mentally vulnerable groups.

These are supported by a well planned LTT and various horizontal, dissemination and communication activities including 6 multiplier events.

MHM is expected to have considerable local, national and international results and impact including improving the knowledge, competences and attitudes of mental health professionals, emerging artists and restorative justice practitioners. Over 10,000 individuals and organisations are expected to be reached through the project’s IOs, 6 multiplier events and 1 LTT. The online availability of all training materials and tools for at least 5 years after EU funding, as well as their translation in 4 languages will ensure sustainability of impact in the long run. Finally, MHM aims to use its findings to inform EU integration, healthcare and other relevant policies. Thus, the achievement of the project objectives will lead a step towards WHO/Europe priorities for mental health.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 239536 Eur

Project Coordinator

Restorative Justice for All International Institute cic & Country: UK

Project Partners

• CSI CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION LTD
• Lélekben Otthon Közhasznú Alapítvány
• KINONIKES SINETERISTIKES DRASTIRIOTITES EFPATHON OMADON
• FUNDACION INTRAS
• ANOTATI SCHOLI KALON TECHNON