Murals installed in CAMHS waiting areas
Stunning murals have been installed in the CAMHS waiting rooms, and patients have expressed their feedback about what they liked best about the changes, commenting that
“It gives me a distraction and things to look for…I see different things every time I come to Camhs. I feel less anxious now when I come to appointments”
“(The) space feels more welcoming with artwork…Can be a conversation ice breaker for nervous YP coming to CAMHS for first time.”
“The young people who are in our service have been involved in the process and their own work is on the walls when they come in for appointments.”
“Amazing graphics and colours made more meaningful because they are made from the young people's own actual drawings”…
“I enjoy the aquatic theme of the waiting room the most, it's very soothing.”
“Bright, colourful, I like the quotes from the children.”
“Great - puts a smile on my face when I come into work!”
“Brings some character into the unit!”
“It involved the young people in preferred design, colours and that their own drawings have been incorporated into the designs”,
The CAMHS project is an initiative brought together NHS Forth Valley, Artlink Central, and Artist Robyn Woolston, to create artworks and interventions that accompany the patient journey of the building. The purpose of the commission was to design and provide a series of artworks to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the service, and also build capacity for creative interventions to help improve wellbeing for young people. CAMHS is a service which provides mental health care for children and young people aged 0-18 years. By utilising the skills of a multidisciplinary team, young people are provided with the best, most comprehensive care they need.
Take a look at Robyn's blog for more insight into the journey of the project!
CAHMS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) with Robyn Woolston
About the Residency
From February to August 2022 artist Robyn Woolston will be working with staff and young people to design and produce site-specific artwork for CAMHS in Stirling Community Hospital and The Manor, in Camelon. The purpose of the commission is to produce a series of artworks to improve the functionality and aesthetic appearance of the site and build capacity for creative interventions to enhance wellbeing for young people in the process. The outcome will be artwork to accompany the patient journey across various areas of the service; from welcoming them as they arrive and providing important information, to reassuring and engaging them while in treatment areas, and to reinforce positive messages and experiences as they leave or wait.
Robyn has created a blog-based case-study that will track the development of an Arts for Mental Health and Wellbeing commission within the CAMHS service in Stirling and Falkirk. Follow the journey here.
What is CAMHS?
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) is provided by NHS Forth Valley for children and young people aged 0-18 years. The team is made up of a range of different professionals who work together using the skills and knowledge of all the different professionals and disciplines, known as multi-disciplinary working. The strength of multidisciplinary CAMHS team-working is that distinct therapeutic approaches can be offered by utilising the different skills of each profession.
CAMHS multidisciplinary teams have expertise in the assessment, care and treatment of children and young people experiencing serious mental health problems. Specialist services for those at risk and with specific conditions are also provided. CAMHS works with and provides support to the wider system of mental health care for children, young people and their families within the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) model. So whilst some children and young people will need to come straight to CAMHS i.e. those requiring urgent mental health care, most will be referred when an intervention within primary care, education or a community-based service has not been enough.
For more information on CAMHS click here.