Towards and Arts and Health Position Paper

Context
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a ‘state of complete psychological, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. This definition indicates that health services should consider ‘health’ as a wide concept that combines the medical, social, psychological, environmental and spiritual dimensions of well being. The arts are used in a variety of ways with patients, for the intrinsic value of engaging in art for it’s own sake as well as to meet the needs of the whole person and as a tool to enhance individual health and well being.

An acute hospital (such as the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Tallaght) houses patients and staff who are creative individuals in their own right. Patients can sometimes experience a long stay in hospital and all focus can be on the part of the body that is ill, while their sense of identity, (with individual preferences and other interests) can be lost or suspended. Anxiety and fear are a common experience for all of us when we access health services.

There is a wealth of international experience to support the use of the arts in health. For example, the US and the UK have a long history of employing both Arts Officers and Arts Therapists in many healthcare settings. Evidence of benefit is growing in this relatively new field. Leading Irish examples of the use of the arts in health currently include our own hospital, as well as the Waterford Healing Arts Trust and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. The HSE recently published The Practice of Arts in Healthcare to give guidelines to health services when introducing arts programmes.


Benefits of using the arts in health
The Arts Council publication The Arts and Health Handbook summarises some of the benefits of the arts in health as follows:

To the health organisation:
• Reduction in stress within the environment
• More positive experience of the healthcare environment for staff, service users and visitors
• Improved perceptions of the organisation
• Stronger sense of community
• More attractive to staff as potential place of employment
• More attractive to potential clients

To service users:
• Sense of ownership of the environment
• Retaining a sense of identity beyond their current circumstances
• Development of creativity and talent
• Enhanced relationships with staff
• More positive experience of health service
• Increased well-being and self-confidence
• Enhanced recovery
• Increased access to the arts
• Increased capacity for creative and critical thinking skills
• Some participants develop a latent talent

To staff:
• Improved working environment
• Stronger sense of community
• Increased creativity
• Enhanced awareness and appreciation of both service users and staff as individuals
• Possibility of developing new or existing skills

To the community
• Reduction in sense of intimidation or alienation from a public service
• Increased sense of ownership of a healthcare centre
• Increased access to the arts


Arts and Health at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght
The appointment and support of a Director of Arts and Health at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in 2003 was an innovative development. The new National Centre for Arts and Health The Director of Arts and Health, based at the Hospital, is an exciting initiative, which seeks to tailor arts activities to each patient’s needs and to use the arts to improve the environment for patients, staff and visitors.

It is proposed that arts practice in health settings must be flexible, to adapt to the specific needs of the context and client groups, and to embrace a wide variety of approaches.

Currently in Ireland the role of arts activities in healthcare is seen as ancillary and extra. It is hoped that in time, through research and evaluation, the arts may become a more integral part of the healthcare experience.

It would be especially interesting to explore whether the arts have a role in reducing recovery time or assisting rehabilitation. The Centre is starting a major research project later this year to explore the use of the arts in promoting health, healing and social gain among clients, patients, their relatives and staff.

References

The Arts and Health, A Practical Guide, published by The Arts Council, Dublin, 2003
A Study of the Effects of the Visual and Performing Arts in Healthcare, (unpublished) Available from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Arts, London.
The Practice of Arts in Healthcare, published by The Eastern Regional Health Authority, Dublin, 2003.


Towards an Arts and Health Position Paper July 2010
Hilary Moss, Director of Arts and Health, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght
And Fiona Delaney, Public Consultation Co-ordinator, SDCC