Does prescribing participation in arts help to promote recovery for mental health clients?

BACKGROUND: Although recovery has become the focus of mental health policy in the UK, few models of practice show how mentalhealth nurses may promote recovery through participatory arts.

AIM: To explore the experiences of people who engaged with an arts on prescription programme.

METHOD: This study used narrative inquiry and participants were interviewed three times over one year.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Participants clearly benefited, especiallyin terms of having a "safe place" to come to, and from making new friends and experiencing peer support. It also enabled some to access education an d voluntarywork.

CONCLUSION: Engaging with community based arts activities may provide opportunities for clients to make friends, become more socially engaged and have a greater sense of belonging.