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An Australian-Malaysian cross-cultural, group art therapy and focus group study located in Terengganu, Malaysia, explored the lived experience of women with responsibilities for raising their children alone, following divorce. This qualitative study had 2 aims: (a) to understand the women's lived experiences, and (b) to determine their experience of group art therapy. The findings indicated that the women reported feelings of loneliness, lack of social supports, loss, and silent grief. Through art therapy they reported feelings of relief and the release of long-held emotions, improved self-expression, enhanced self-awareness, and experiences of mutual support and inner strength.

Visual experience and meaning making in art therapy constitute more than looking at the image created. Clients and therapists utilize the environment of therapy in ways that have been hitherto unrecognized. This article presents a key finding from an art-based study of the experience of the art therapy room from the perspectives of client and therapist participants. The study found that clients may silently support themselves through aspects of what they can see, whereas therapists more intentionally incorporate objects and visual qualities of the room into therapeutic practice both for their clients' therapeutic benefit and their own emotional and professional support. (Contains 5 figures.)

Objective: A pilot art-making and mental health recovery project addressed consumer and carer mental health and well-being in Suva, Fiji. Method: Using feedback surveys, the project evaluated initial training, and a 12-month art programme for consumers, carers and staff across several mental health services. Results: First person and stakeholder group reports from the project reflected broad-scale approval for the novel modality and its potential for continued application in keeping with local cultural values. A broad stakeholder base was involved in planning and participation, aligned with the values of inclusive recovery-oriented mental health service approaches. Conclusions: These results suggest that the programme can add value to mental health care being provided for people with a mental illness in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Set in the Pacific nation of Samoa, this study contributes knowledge about art, mental health and trauma recovery for people within a non-Western context. A total of 22 youth and young adults from two residential services participated in a six month weekly art programme set within a health promotion context. Methods: Focus group discussions with staff and consumers explored the participant experience of art making. Focus group data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: The study revealed art making in the recovery context supported enhanced levels of self-awareness, a sense of identity, belonging and of being contributors to society. Conclusions: Making art in the group supported participants' sense of voice, empowerment, agency and the capacity to make a social contribution within their respective communities during a period of dislocation from the village and extended family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Art-based practices show promise as a beneficial solution for mental health services because they are in line with the whole person recovery framework currently being adopted, and have high acceptability with consumers. Nevertheless, incorporation of art-based approaches into mental health services has been impeded by claims of an insufficient evidence-base and ongoing debates about the most suitable research practices. This article addresses this gap in the literature by critically reviewing current research on the benefits of art-based practices in mental health rehabilitation settings. Method: A critical review of previous research was conducted identifying all quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies that addressed art making and adult mental illness. Then a deductive/theoretical thematic analysis was conducted using Lal's framework for conceptualising mental health recovery. Results: The identified areas where art-based practices were of key benefit included psychological and social recovery, particularly in the areas of self-discovery, self-expression, relationships and social identity. These findings in conjunction with the identified benefits to clinical, occupational and contextual recovery indicate that art-based practices play a substantial role in mental health recovery. To add weight to these claims, future research endeavours need to integrate the suggested recommendations detailed in this review. Conclusion: Recommendations are made to improve the quality of future research, including the need for well-designed mixed-method studies that integrate qualitative and quantitative research, whilst keeping in mind the values of mental heath recovery, would further validate this current evidence-base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Art making is a common activity provided for consumers in mental health psychosocial rehabilitation services, yet there is little evidence available which examines its role in the recovery process. The current study inquires into mental health consumers' lived experiences of art making within psychosocial rehabilitation services and their views on how art making supports mental health recovery. Method. This research used qualitative in-depth interviews to explore the role of art making in the mental health recovery journey. The sample comprised 18 consumer participants who attended art-based programs in two psychosocial services in Victoria, Australia. The 60--90 min interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results. A total of 11 major themes were identified and organised into three areas: qualities conducive to the art making context, how the art making process benefits mental health recovery, and how the image or art product benefits mental health recovery. The 11 themes are described and illustrated from participant interviews. Consumers described art making as a transformative activity which enabled them to take greater control of their lives, resulting in feeling stronger, more confident, and more capable of driving their journey of recovery. The art product also served valuable roles in supporting their recovery. Conclusions. Art making is a highly valued activity by consumers, who suggest that innovative and strengths-based methods, such as art making, can facilitate recovery and self-expression. A key challenge for the field is to determine how such methods can be better integrated into mental health service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAimsMethods & ProceduresOutcomes & ResultsConclusionsSeveral programs addressing the long-term impacts of aphasia after stroke show promise. However, barriers restrict their implementation at scale. Hub-and-spoke models of care operate in several health contexts to reduce the health care costs associated with health professionals providing all direct services, and to improve the reach of services to communities at distance from the main service. We developed the Peer-led Hub-and-Spoke Community Aphasia Group (Peer-led HS CAG) program to address staff and service availability barriers. The Peer-led HS CAG organises service through a “Hub” of allied and mental health professionals, led by a speech pathologist, who provide consultative and occasional direct services to the aphasia group. The “spokes” are volunteers with and without aphasia, trained and supported by the “Hub” staff to facilitate groups in the community.We aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Peer-led HS CAG program to address long-term impacts of aphasia.In a Phase I, proof of concept, mixed methods design we utilised: (1) a pre-post observational quantitative design; (2) an embedded qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews of group facilitators and participants. Four health professionals from speech pathology, psychology, art therapy, and music therapy formed the Hub. Four volunteers were trained as group facilitators over two, half-day sessions prior to the group programs commencing. The 12-week group programme was delivered twice in a community setting, consisting of weekly 2-hour sessions. Seven people with aphasia attended: four in programme one, three in program two. The group program consisted of four compulsory topic sessions and eight “members choice” sessions. Seven close others attended four of the twelve program sessions: two with their family members with aphasia; two with specific “hub” staff input. During the remaining eight weeks of the program close others chose whether to meet independently. Outcome measures were taken at four time points: 6 weeks pre-program; immediately pre-program; immediately after-program; 6-week follow up.Four participants showed clinically meaningful gains in communication-related quality of life and three in functional communication immediately post-program or at 6-week follow up. Qualitative interviews confirmed the feasibility and overall acceptability of the program. Close others requested additional sessions specific to their needs.The Peer-led HS CAG program is a feasible and acceptable way to address the current lack of community aphasia groups. Future phase II and III research should explore the efficacy and costs of this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]