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Karkou V, Omylinska-Thurston J, Thurston S, Clark R, Perris E, Kaehne A, Pearson M. Developing a strategy to scale up place-based arts initiatives that support mental health and wellbeing: A realist evaluation of 'Arts for the Blues'. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296178. [PMID: 38165951 PMCID: PMC10760705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Place-based arts initiatives are regarded as rooted in local need and as having capacity to engage local assets. However, many place-based arts initiatives remain poorly funded and short-lived, receiving little attention on how to scale up and sustain their activities. In this study we make a unique contribution to knowledge about scaling up place-based arts initiatives that support mental health and wellbeing through focusing on the example of 'Arts for the Blues', an arts-based psychological group intervention designed to reduce depression and improve wellbeing amongst primary care mental health service users in deprived communities. Methodologically, we used realist evaluation to refine the study's theoretical assumptions about scaling up, drawing on the lived and professional experiences of 225 diverse stakeholders' and frontline staff through a series of focus groups and evaluation questions at two stakeholders' events and four training days. Based on our findings, we recommend that to scale up place-based arts initiatives which support mental health and wellbeing: (i) the initiative needs to be adaptable, clear, collaborative, evidence-based, personalised and transformative; (ii) the organisation has to have a relevant need, have an understanding of the arts, has to have resources, inspiration and commitment from staff members, relevant skillsets and help from outside the organisation; (iii) at a policy level it is important to pay attention to attitude shifts towards the arts, meet rules, guidelines and standards expected from services, highlight gaps in provision, seek out early intervention and treatment options, and consider service delivery changes. The presence of champions at a local level and buy-in from managers, local leaders and policy makers are also needed alongside actively seeking to implement arts initiatives in different settings across geographical spread. Our theoretically-based and experientially-refined study provides the first ever scaling up framework developed for place-based arts initiatives that support the mental health and wellbeing, offering opportunities for spread and adoption of such projects in different organisational contexts, locally, nationally and internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Karkou
- Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Omylinska-Thurston
- School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Friedrick Campus, Salford, United Kingdom
- Counselling Psychologist at Greater Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott Thurston
- School of Arts and Media and Creative Technology, University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Clark
- School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Perris
- Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Edge University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| | - Axel Kaehne
- Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Pearson
- Institute for Clinical & Applied Health Research, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
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Davy G, Unwin KL, Barbaro J, Dissanayake C. Leisure, employment, community participation and quality of life in caregivers of autistic children: A scoping review. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 26:1916-1930. [PMID: 35765798 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221105836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT We searched a wide range of academic journals for published information on the participation levels of caregivers of autistic children in activities relating to leisure, social, community and employment contexts, and the impact that participation may have on caregiver quality of life. Overall, we found that the impact of parenting an autistic child is broad with caregivers often prioritising their child's needs over their own, particularly in occupational participation, which impacts their quality of life. Findings also highlighted a need for further research to investigate the experience of caregivers, and the relationship between participation and quality of life in caregivers of autistic children, as the results can inform the development of better supports for them.
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