Exhibition tackles mental health stigma
Exhibitions
InSight – Winter 2023
In October, the exhibition Inside-Outsider launched in Edinburgh and in a virtual gallery. The project aimed to tackle the stigma of mental health professionals who have lived experience of mental health difficulties. Don McJimpsey, trainee art therapist and co-lead of our dual experience special interest group, tells us about the project.
I was inspired to connect with dual experience practitioners from other mental health disciplines to co-produce an art exhibition that challenged societal and systemic stigma.
‘Dual experience’ is a term used to describe professionals who have had experience of both providing mental health services and also have their own lived or living experience of mental health difficulties.
The stigma of dual experience
Previous anti-stigma campaigns have been thought to unintentionally add to societal stigma by locating these challenges in the ‘Other’, implying that some people are immune to experiencing mental health difficulties. This can be particularly difficult for those who have dual experience. The literature reflects that stigma has left many practitioners silenced about their lived experience for fears that their competency or fitness to practise will be challenged.
What’s more, both societal and systemic stigma can become internalised. Practitioners may apply the stereotypes associated with mental health difficulties to themselves. This can evoke feelings of shame that may encourage people to split off parts of themselves in the workplace.
We wanted the exhibition to offer a space for creative expression where dual-experienced practitioners could be their whole selves and where lived experience can be seen as an asset in mental health professionals. By raising awareness through the collective sharing of artworks, we hoped that new understandings may occur which could contribute to breaking the ‘us and them’ divide and stigma around mental health.
Coming up with a name
Outsider art is a term that often refers to artwork made by people who live on the margins of society, and is commonly associated with artwork created by those who experience mental health challenges. The title of this event, Inside-Outsider, was inspired by outsider art.
Paradoxically, the ‘outsiders’ on this occasion were also the ‘insiders’ as professionals within the mental health arena through a collective sharing of artworks about their lived experiences of mental health difficulties.
Inviting submissions – with the option of anonymity
Submissions of artwork were invited from regulated mental health professionals around the themes of stigma with an option to submit work that demonstrated the benefits of artmaking for our wellbeing.
We offered the option to submit work anonymously to recognise that it is not always psychologically safe to be open about any mental health difficulties in the mental health professions. Despite this, only one participant used a pseudonym, and one other wished for only their first name to be used.
Exhibitions as social justice activism
We took the approach of social justice activism, building on the presentations on the British Association of Art Therapists’ annual conference in 2022 on art therapy, trauma in society and social activism.
Our approach was inspired by the writings of Che Guevara: ‘The true revolutionary is guided by strong feelings of love’. We wanted to encourage a dialogue between ourselves, the general public, and the systems around us. This involved being curious and reflexive of our beliefs and values when viewing the artworks.
Influenced by the writing of art therapist Corrina Eastwood (2022, p2) we aimed to ‘develop greater shared wellbeing and of furthering anti-oppressive practice with working with clients and colleagues’.
Building supportive collaborations
Having support from organisations and individuals who see themselves as allies seems to have been an important factor in the success of the project. We had offers of different kinds of support, from endorsements of the event to directly contributing.
As the idea evolved, I became a voluntary associate of in2gr8mentalhealth CIC to take the project forward. in2gr8mentalhealth is an organisation that values, destigmatises and supports lived experience in the mental health professions. The company works with whole systems from peer work to training in clinical academia and consulting to workplaces. The organisation hosted the virtual gallery, meaning we could take the project online.
Inside-Outsider was also included in the 2023 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival which is led by the Mental Health Foundation. The festival is one of the world’s leading arts events dedicated to mental health and aims to explore how arts can be beneficial for those who experience mental health difficulties and challenge distorted beliefs about mental health. Being part of the festival helped us reach a wider audience.
We were also funded by the Thrive Arts small grants fund, Thrive, Edinburgh’s Health and Social Care Partnership.
The final exhibition
The exhibition presented 53 artworks by mental health professionals from different disciplines. This included 14 art psychotherapists (one of whom is also a social worker), four clinical psychologists, one chartered psychologist, one psychotherapist (also a trainee hypnotherapist) and two counselling psychologists.
We were honoured to hear from Bridget Grant, Chair of BAAT Scotland, who spoke about the importance of the exhibition. The support from the British Association of Art Therapists was a valuable contribution to the event.
Speaking out about dual experience
On the launch night, we had presentations (online and in-person) from professionals who have dual experience.
Speakers included art psychotherapist Mandy Leonard, a former Lead for the Dual Experience Special Interest Group. We also heard from clinical psychologist and senior clinical tutor, Dr Natalie Kemp, who is the founder and CEO of in2gr8mentalhealth CIC.
Finally, Greg Bromley, an art psychotherapist, artist and social worker of 20 years gave a presentation after the launch event, incorporating his artmaking, and touching on both personal and professional topics.
How did it go?
Overall the event seems to have gained favourable attention. A formal evaluation is currently underway, however verbal feedback so far suggests that future events would be welcomed by professionals, the public and organisations.
The opening night was fully booked, and comments and questions shared on the evening suggested this was a much-needed event that created conversations and connections between people.