European Social Network 23rd European Social Services

Conference Lisbon 6-8 July 2015

Paula DomingosNational Programme for Mental Health

Director-General of Health, The Ministry of Health,

Lisbon, Portugal

“Mental Health and Art” Project

ARTE - CAMINHO DE PROMOÇÃO DA SAÚDE MENTAL E COMBATE AO ESTIGMAART - A WAY TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND FIGHT STIGMA

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Summary:

• Legislative/political framework• Organizational framework• Contextualization• Objectives• Performed activities• Evaluation

Legislative/political framework:National Mental Health Plan 2007-2016 (PNSM)(Council of Ministers Resolution nº 49/2008 de 06-03-2008 )

Mission:

Ensure all the portuguese population the access toservices which are able to promote their mental health,provide quality healthcare and facilitate thereintegration and rehabilitation of people with this kind of problems.

“Mental Health and Art” Project

National Mental Health Plan 2007 – 2016

Values

Mental health as inseparable from general health

Human rights

Community care

Community participation

Protection of particularly vulnerable groups

Accessibility and equity

Recovery

“Mental Health and Art” Project

National Mental Health Policy and Plan 2007 – 2016

Objectives:

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Promote and protect human

rights of people with mental disorders.

Reduce the impact of mental disorders and

contribute to the promotion of mental health of population.

Promote the decentralization of

mental health services.

Promote the integration of mental healthcare into the

general health system. *Source: PORTUGAL/WHO COUNTRY SUMMARY 2003

Geographical Distribution of Local Mental Healthcare

Services for Adults

41 Local Services SM

14 Community Teams CH/H Psychiatric

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Contextualization:

The project “Mental Health and Art” is developed, on a regular basis since 2010, by the National Programme for Mental Health (PNSM) of the General Health Directorate, through various cultural initiatives of mental health promotion and fighting stigma at a national level.

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Targets •People with severe mental health problems who are involved in psychosocial rehabilitation programmes in their psychiatric treatment.

Goal •Publicize quality artistic works produced by people with severe mental health illness who are involved in psychosocial rehabilitation programmes.

Methodology •Annually, the National Programme for Mental Health of the General Health Directorate addresses a formal invitation to all the national institutions that provide mental healthcare and services, either public, private or belonging to the social sector, to take part in the “Mental Health and Art” project.

Objectives:

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Protecttion of cultural rights

Artistic skills valorization

Performed activities:

2010 – Visual Arts

Group exhibtion in S. Pedro do Sul, in a technicians’ training context at an international level.

Curators: Sandro Resende and José Azevedo, Artists

“Mental Health and Art” Project

“Mental Health and Art” Project2010 Art Exhibition Catalogue

Performed activities:2011 – Visual Arts

Group show - painting and photography - in partnership with Lisbon Psychiatric Hospital Centre,

at LX Factory.

Curators: Sandro Resende and José Azevedo, Artists

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Performed activities:

2012 – Gastronomy

“Paladares para todos”

Commissioners: José Avillez, Filipe Pina, Liubumir Stanisic and João Simões, Chefs

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Performed activities: 2013 – Visual Arts: Painting, Photography and Sculture

Survey of the national artistic heritage of people with severe mental health illness, in areas such as painting, photography and sculpture, existing in public, private or social institutions providing mental health care and services.

Field work undertaken by a multidisciplinary team: Marta Repolho, Fernando Peres, José Azevedo and Sandro Resende.

Determined result: 1.262 paintings, 589 sculptural works and 328 photographs. Part of these are registered in catalogue.

Curator - Dr. Álvaro Lobato de Faria, Coordinating Manager of the Portuguese Contemporary Art Movement.

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Performed activities:

2013 - Visual Arts

First national of visual arts:National Museum Soares dos Reis (Porto),Museu do Oriente (Lisboa)

Museu Guy Fino, (Portalegre).

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Performed activities: 2014 - Visual Arts - Coimbra

Second visual arts national exhibition: National Museum Machado de Castro, Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, Bissaya Barreto Foundation, Casa das Letras of Coimbra City Council.

Curators: Carlos Antunes and Désirée Pedro - Directors of Coimbra’s Visual Arts Circle.

Performing Arts

Beginning of the theater and dance cycle

Theater commissioner: João Maria André, director at Cooperativa Bonifrates in Coimbra and former director at Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente

Dance commissioner: Leonor Barata, choreographer.

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Ongoing activities:

2015 – Alentejo

1) Visual ArtsThird national exhibition of visual arts

Curator: Leite Rio, artist

2) Performing Arts Second cycle of theater and dance. Theater commissioner: Miguel Abreu, director Dance commissioner: Rita Barata, choreographer

3) Gastronomy Commissioner: António Nobre, Chef

“Mental Health and Art” Project

2010 Art Exhibition Catalogue

Opportunities?

Social inclusion?

Fight the stigma?

Promove mental health?

Deconstrution of

prejudice?

Mental Health and

Art

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Evaluation:Results achieved on the basis of a questionnaire application in a face-to-face interview context performed by IPAM – GEMEO (Gabinete de Estudos de Mercado e Opinião)

Concerning the performed activities, the majority of respondents (89,3%) consider that these were appropriate, and 89,8% would like to see this initiative happening again.

Fonte: Avaliação do projeto Saúde Mental e Arte 2014 (GEMEO)

“Mental Health and Art” Project

Most of the respondents (84,4%) believe that this sort of initiatives are positive, helping to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

WORD that best describes this initiative as a

life experience

Fonte: Avaliação do projeto Saúde Mental e Arte 2014 (GEMEO)

“Mental Health and Art” Project

THANKS