The Create for Confidence project
The Create for Confidence project is led by Dr Naomi Warne and a multidisciplinary team of researchers, mental health professionals, creative therapists and school staff. The team aims to develop an art and wellbeing programme which can be delivered in schools to help prevent anxiety and depression in students.
Creating visual art (e.g. drawing, painting, sculpting) and art therapy can improve self-esteem, improve mood and reduce stress in young people. These are key factors that can help protect against the onset of symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Create for Confidence team are designing a series of sessions around art and mental health (an art and wellbeing programme) to be delivered to Year 7 students (aged 11-12 years) with the aim of preventing anxiety and depression.
Naomi and her team will work directly with young people, parents, schools, creative therapists and mental health professionals to co-develop the programme, to ensure that it is as suitable and sustainable as possible. Before the co-development process begins, the researchers are conducting two research studies to work out key parameters for the programme.
The first study has just been launched and the Create for Confidence team are looking to hear from staff who work with UK secondary schools to share their thoughts.
The new research study
Naomi and her team are recruiting staff who work in or with UK secondary schools to take part in the first Create for Confidence Study. The aims of the study are to better understand what is already happening in schools around art and mental health, and what an art and wellbeing programme should look like. The team are looking to recruit visual arts teachers and staff working in secondary schools who support student mental health.
Naomi explains: “We are really excited to launch this study and hear people’s thoughts on how we should design an art and wellbeing programme for schools. We believe that it is crucial to get staff who work in schools involved right from the beginning for any kind of school prevention programme. Staff taking part in this study will be able to make a real impact as the thoughts shared will directly inform key choices for the art and wellbeing programme we are developing. If you work with a UK secondary school, please do get in touch as we would love to hear from you.”
What is involved?
Participants can choose to take part in an online survey, an interview discussion, or both. The online survey involves responding to open ended and response choice questions which can take up to 30 minutes to complete. The interview discussion would be a video call or phone call with a member of the Create for Confidence team lasting up to 1 hour.
Questions in the survey and the interview will cover:
- the current use of art to support mental health in schools,
- staff mental health training,
- what an art programme to prevent depression and anxiety should look like,
- who should be involved in supporting an art and wellbeing programme,
- how to promote sustainability of an art and wellbeing programme,
- best ways of implementing an art and wellbeing programme, and
- any concerns.
Participants will be paid a £10 voucher for the survey and a £25 voucher for the interview as a thank you.
How to take part
If you would like to take part in this study, please fill in this online registration form by by 31 January 2024.
Mental health professionals working with secondary schools are also invited to take part in Bristol-based focus groups (dates in November-December 2023). Please register your interest.
Participants will be paid a £10 voucher for the survey and a £25 voucher for the interview as a thank you.
Contact details
If you are interested in hearing more about the project and any future studies, please contact the Create for Confidence team via email: create-for-confidence@bristol.ac.uk
This research is funded by Prudence Trust/Elizabeth Blackwell Institute.