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Bringing Lived Lives to Swift's Asylum: a psychiatric hospital perspective.
- Source :
-
Wellcome open research [Wellcome Open Res] 2021 Dec 20; Vol. 6, pp. 85. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 20 (Print Publication: 2021). - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background: Few "interventions" around suicide and stigma have reached into psychiatric institutions. Lived Lives is a science-arts approach to addressing suicide and stigma, informed by a psychobiographical and visual arts autopsy. The resulting artworks and mediated exhibition ( Lived Lives ), has facilitated dialogue, response and public action around stigma-reduction, consistent with a community intervention. Recent evidence from Lived Lives moved us to consider how it may situate within a psychiatric hospital. Methods: Lived Lives manifested in St. Patrick's University Hospital (Ireland's oldest and largest psychiatric hospital) in November 2017.   A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the exhibition as a potential intervention to address stigma around suicide, with quantitative and qualitative data collected via written questionnaire and oral data collected via video documentation.  Bereavement support was available. A Clinician and an artist also provided independent evaluation. Results:   86 participants engaged with the exhibition, with 68 completing questionnaire data. Audiences included service users, policy makers, health professionals, senior hospital administrators and members of the public. 62% of participants who completed questionnaires were suicide-bereaved; 46% had experienced a mental health difficulty, and 35% had been suicidal in the past. 91% thought Lived Lives could be of benefit in the aftermath of a suicide death. Half of participants thought Lived Lives could help reduce suicidal feelings, whereas 88% thought it could benefit those with Mental Health difficulties. The emotional response was of a visceral nature, including fear, anger, sadness, disgust and anxiety. Conclusions: Lived Lives sits comfortably in discomfort, unafraid to call out the home-truths about stigma and its pervasive and pernicious impact, and with restoring identity at its core. Lived Lives can operate within a psychiatric hospital, as well as in community. The challenge is to move it forward for greater exposure and impacts in at-risk communities.<br />Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.<br /> (Copyright: © 2021 Malone KM et al.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2398-502X
- Volume :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Wellcome open research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35425863.3
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15588.2