Does prescribing participation in arts help to promote recovery for mental health clients?
BACKGROUND
Although recovery has become the focus of mental health policy in the UK, few models of practice show how mentalhealth nurses may promote recovery through participatory arts.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the experiences of people who engaged with an arts on prescription programme.


METHODS
This study used narrative inquiry and participants were interviewed three times over one year.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants clearly benefited, especiallyin terms of having a "safe place" to come to, and from making new friends and experiencing peer support. It also enabled some to access education an d voluntarywork.


CONCLUSIONS
Engaging with community based arts activities may provide opportunities for clients to make friends, become more socially engaged and have a greater sense of belonging.
Stickley
Theodore
T
School of Nursing, University of Nottingham.
D001155:Art Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support