This blog was set up by Barts Health Art Therapists Megan Tjasink and Poppy Stevens in April 2020 with support for art materials for staff, and additional hours for the part time art therapists by the Barts Guild.
The Art Therapists invited participation in an art-based support forum for Barts Health staff. This online forum aimed to support wellbeing, coping and resilience through accessible creative methods informed by Art Therapy, Mindfulness and Compassion Focussed Therapy.
The Art Therapists posted weekly themes and asked staff to email them a photograph (taken on a phone) with brief comment in response to this theme. The Art Therapy team collated and curated the images to create online galleries which, along with other onsite and online forums, served as supportive hubs for comment, sharing and reflection.
In October we held an exhibition of some of the artwork and photos you made in the Great Hall at SBH. We hope to hold another exhibition in the Spring.
Any level of participation is welcome, whether you regularly contribute images and reflection, or simply visit the blog to browse. We understand the immense pressure everyone is under and welcome you to dip in and out as and when you are able to. Even 10 minutes of creative absorption or distraction can help you to reconnect with yourself and others, re-set and lower your stress levels.
Your comments:
‘First off, I would like to thank all the people behind the art therapy. As I, personally found it very useful going through this tough times. I have been on the frontline since March and until now post peak of the pandemic.
I felt trapped wearing PPEs, but relieved with doing creative works.’ Critical Care Nurse, SBH
‘I’ve really liked feeling connected to other people within the Trust, as well as feeling connected to the wider natural world by looking at people’s images. And it’s been nice to talk to colleagues about the images they have shared on the blog.’ Clinical Psychologist, SBH
Barts Art and Wellbeing 