Art in the Mental Health System

Within the mental health system artistic expression has long been drawn into the service of therapy. The arts therapies are founded on the ideas of Freud. Freud was moved yet puzzled by the arts. He could not allow the view that the arts might elucidate reality and enrich  our understanding of our world. Instead, Freud’s prevailing view was of art as a personal expression of neurosis, he saw it in the same way as he saw childish play - as fantasy - a retreat from reality. The creative psychotherapies (art therapy, dance movement therapy, music therapy) have been tolerated within psychiatry perhaps because the therapeutic endeavour parcels up and pathologises art. The artist in therapy must become retain a patient role in order to participate. Artistic ability in the patient may even be seen as an obstacle to the aim of therapy, contraindicated, a ‘defence’. In therapy, art is the by-product of a process of recovery, a private activity fit only for the patient, the therapist or the therapeutic group. The artistic communication can be discounted as the ramblings of an unreasonable mind, and shielded from public consideration.

Social Inclusion

The Sound Minds studio provides opportunities for people within the mental health system in music poetry, the visual arts and music. Sound Minds routinely engages people alienated from mainstream services. As in the much vaunted Bromley-by-Bow centre, we share a building with other community services.

Organisations like Sound Minds, Core Arts in Homerton and others are part of a growing movement away from old style service solutions. We are reclaiming the arts from ‘therapists’, releasing the talents and voices of our members.

Musicians from within the project perform regularly within mental health fields and in the local community. Through art exhibitions, theatre and poetry Sound Minds has achieved regular national media coverage.