The ramifications of mental ill health are enduring and potentially disabling. This research study focuses on using art to explore children’s understanding and awareness of mental health issues.
Aims
To explore the medium of ‘drawing’ as a method of communication by young people for expressing feelings and thoughts about what keeps their minds strong and what makes them happy as children.
Method
Arts-based research was used as a primary mode of inquiry to collect data and conduct analysis.
Sample
A total of 16 schools participated, with 10 from the primary school sector (children aged 5–11 years) and six from the post-primary sector (11 + to 18 years). A total of 358 posters were submitted.
Findings
Emergent themes suggested the existence of the awareness of stigma, which accompanied mental health issues and social isolation. In addition, perceptions of what makes children happy were also apparent, for example, family and friends. Similarities existed in the relationship between genders of a similar age group, and some differentiations presented between primary and post-primary educational sectors.
Implications
Arts-based research offers children an opportunity to recognise and express their feelings. Early identification of a child’s mental health problems may enable mental health nurses to engage in early intervention strategies to promote positive health functioning.
Adi Y, Killoran A, Janmohamed K (2007) Systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to promote mental wellbeing in children in primary education. Report 1: universal approaches (non-violence related outcomes). London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
2.
BaroneTEisnerEW (2012) Arts Based Research, London and LA: SAGE.
3.
BishopVPicardC (2007) Review: Using art-based techniques in engaging children and young people in health care consultations and/or research. Journal of Research in Nursing12: 499.
4.
BowenG (2009) Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal9(2): 27–40.
5.
Bradshaw CP, Rebok G, Zablotsky B, et al. (2012) Models of stress and adapting to risk. In: Eaton W (ed) Public Mental Health. New York: Oxford, pp. 269–302.
6.
Bresler L (2011) Arts-based research and drama education. Key Concepts in Theatre/Drama Education 321–326.
7.
CoadJ (2007) Using art-based techniques in engaging children and young people in health care consultations and/or research. Journal of Research in Nursing12: 487–497.
8.
CohenLManionLMorrisonK (2011) Research Methods in Education, 7th ed. London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.
9.
ColmanIPloubidisGWadsworthM (2007) A longitudinal typology of symptoms of depression and anxiety over the life course. Biological Psychiatry62: 1265–1271.
10.
CooperMHooperCThompsonM (2005) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Theory and Practice, Oxford: Edward Arnold Ltd.
11.
CopelandWWolkeDAngoldA (2013) Adult psychiatric outcomes of bullying and being bullied by peers in childhood and adolescence. JAMA Psychiatry70(4): 419–426. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.504.
12.
Department of Health (2009) New horizons: Towards a shared vision for mental health, Consultation. London: Department of Health.
13.
Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (2016) Research for Better Health and Social Care: A Strategy for Health and Social Care Research and Development in Northern Ireland (2016–2025). Available at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk.
14.
EmersonEHattonC (2007) The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents with Learning Disabilities in Britain, Lancaster: Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University.
15.
European Commission (2009) Arts and Cultural Education at School in Europe, Brussels: EACEA/Eurydice.
FisherJRde MelloMC (2011) Using the World Health Organization's 4S-Framework to Strengthen National Strategies, Policies and Services to Address Mental Health Problems in Adolescents in Resource-Constrained Settings. International Journal of Mental Health Systems5(1): 1.
18.
GibbS (2010) Burden of psychiatric disorder in young adulthood and life outcomes at age 30. British Journal of Psychiatry197: 122–127.
19.
HelliwellJLayardRSachsJ (2015) World Happiness Report 2015, New York: United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
KapphahnCMorrealeMRickertVI (2006) Financing mental health services for adolescents: A background paper. Journal of Adolescent Health39: 318–327.
24.
KillenMCoplanRJ (2011) Social Development in Childhood and Adolescence. A Contemporary Reader, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
25.
LargeyMKellyCBStevensonM (2009) A study of suicide rates in Northern Ireland 1984–2002. Ulster Medical Journal78(1): 16–20.
26.
LayardRHagellA (2015) Healthy young minds: Transforming the mental health of children. In: HelliwellJLayardRSachsJ (eds) World Happiness Report 2015, New York: United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
27.
LeavyP (2009) Method Meets Art: Arts-based Research Practice, New York: The Guilford Press.
28.
McMahonEReulbachUKeeleyH (2010) Bullying, victimisation, self-harm and associated factors in Irish adolescent boys. Social Science and Medicine71(7): 1300–1307.
29.
McNiff S (2013) Art as Research: Opportunities and Challenges. UK: Intellect Books; Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
30.
MalchiodiCA (2005) Expressive Therapies, New York: The Guilford Press.
31.
MerikangasKRHeJBursteinM (2010) Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in US adolescents: Results from the National Comorbidity Study–Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry49(10): 980–989.
32.
MilesMBHubermanAM (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
33.
MoranPCoffeyCRomaniukH (2012) The natural history of self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood: A population based cohort study. Lancet379(9812): 236–243.
34.
Morrison W and Kirby P (2010) Schools as a setting for promoting positive mental health: Better practices and perspectives. Joint Consortium for School Health.
35.
MurphyMFonagyP (2012) Mental health problems in children and young people. In: Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer, London: Department of Health.
Parry-Langdon N, Clements A, Fletcher D and Goodman R (2008) Three years on: Survey of the emotional development and well-being of children and young people. Office for National Statistics.
PunchKF (2006) Developing Effective Research Proposals, 2nd ed. London: SAGE.
44.
ReesGGoswamiHPopleL (2013) The Good Childhood Report, London: The Children’s Society.
45.
Reisz E (2012) Using visual arts to promote awareness of mental health among middle school students. Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) Conference, Houston, 21 April 2012.
46.
SilvermanD (2001) Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analyzing Talk, Text and Interaction, 2nd ed. London: SAGE.
47.
Stewart-BrownSL (2006) What is the evidence on school health promotion in improving health or preventing disease and, specifically what is the effectiveness of the health promoting schools approach, Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Health Evidence Network (HEN).
48.
StickleyTHuiA (2012) [Arts In-Reach: Taking ‘bricks off shoulders’ in adult mental health inpatient care]. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing19(5): 402–409.
49.
Hooper C, Thompson M, Laver-Bradbury C and Gale C (2012) Child and adolescent mental health: Theory and practice. (2nd Edition) CRC Press. Hodder Education An Hachette UK Company.
50.
Time to Change (2008) Stigma shout: Service user and carer experiences of stigma and discrimination, London: Time to Change.
WikströmBM (2005) Communication via expressive arts: The natural medium of self-expression for hospitalized children. Paediatric Nursing31(6): 480–485.
