Arts and the media – Space 22

Résumé fourni par la source

Television broadcasting has had a longstanding commitment to educating the public on mental health issues; however, ‘mental health intervention television’ which involves members of the public taking part in made-for television interventions is a more recent development. This type of programming focuses on intervening in the lives of the cast with the goal of making a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. This study describes Space 22 as an exemplar of a mental health intervention on television. Space 22 is a six-part television series exploring the impact of arts engagement on mental health using mixed methods. Seven participants with lived experience of mental health challenges engaged in art workshops, guided by professional artists. Quantitative measures included the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Health and Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), Short Mood Scale (SMS), Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), and the Social Inclusion Scale. Results showed significant improvements in wellbeing scores, with a mean increase of 14.4 points on the WEMWBS, exceeding the threshold for meaningful clinical change. Qualitative analysis identified ‘connectedness’ as the dominant theme through four dimensions: connection to (i) group members, (ii) self, (iii) public advocacy, and (iv) the creative process. The study demonstrates the potential of television-based arts interventions for enhancing mental health, particularly through fostering social connections and enabling public mental health advocacy.

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