Mental Health Ireland in conjunction with Wexford Mental Health Association invite you to a Webinar to launch:

The Discover/Recover Theatre Project: A Social Impact Study

(An independent evaluation carried out by Just Economics in 2019)

 

Tuesday 19th January 2021 at 11am

The Discover/Recover Theatre Project is a preventative mental health intervention that seeks to increase mental health literacy and reduce stigma through education and awareness-raising:

· A Testimonial theatre performance “A Face in the Crowd”

· Coproduction and sharing the lived experience of people with mental health challenges

· Mental health education workshop for young people

Key finding of the report show that this is an effective approach that improves mental health literacy, reduces stigma and supports help-seeking behaviours among young people.

The play was highly endorsed by the young people and 92% supported its staging in other locations.

The project reached 1032 young people across 10 Secondary Schools in 2019.

This webinar will show the very positive findings demonstrated in the evaluation; generate discussion from key stakeholders from Arts, Health and Education and explore sustainability for this essential mental health promotion project which has been proven to be a safe and effective medium of reaching young people.

Multi stakeholders Perspective on Discover/Recover Theatre Project -“A Face in the Crowd”

You can see all of the benefits of the project from the corresponding info-graph.

For a more detailed report click the link below.

Minister Mary Butler Launches Social Impact Study  Discover/Recover Theatre Project “A Face in the Crowd”

 

‘The Discover/Recover Theatre Project’ is a preventative mental health intervention that utilises live drama performance to effectively increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma through education and support help seeking amongst young people.

The project is a coproduction, sharing the lived experience of people with mental health challenges via the professionally produced testimonial theatre performance, ‘A Face in the Crowd,’ supported by a mental health educational workshop for young people.

The key finding of the report show that this is an effective approach that:

  • Improves mental health literacy
  • Reduces stigma
  • Supports help-seeking behaviours among young people.

The ‘A Face in the Crowd’ performance was highly endorsed by the young people and 92% supported its staging in other locations. The project reached 1032 young people across 10 secondary schools in 2019 alone.

This Webinar will share the positive impact findings demonstrated in ‘The Discover/Recover Theatre Project: A Social Impact Study’ evaluation; generate discussion from key stakeholders from Arts, Health and Education and explore sustainability for this essential mental health promotion project which has been proven to be a safe and effective medium of reaching young people.

Photos of the Discover/Recover Theatre Project “A Face in the Crowd” Project Team and Events

 

Acknowledgements- Discover/Recover Theatre Project –“A Face in the Crowd”

Acknowledgements

This project initiated as a partnership project between the HSE Wexford Mental Health Services and Wexford Mental Health Association. Since the origins of the Discover/Recover Theatre Project, we have been met with nothing but support from professionals and volunteers from all areas bringing skill, empathy and dedication. We would like to extend particular thanks for the following, without whom the development of this programme and in turn this research would not have been possible:

  • Eilis Lawlor and Niamh Bowen, JustEconomics
  • Storytellers: John Cloney, Liam O’Rourke, Patricia O’Neill, Helen Finn and Jennifer O’Brien
  • All students and staff of secondary schools in Wexford County who participated in the research.
  • The staff and board of Wexford Mental Health Association
  • Waterford Wexford HSE Mental Health Service Staff and Management
  • The Wexford Mental Health Service Occupational Therapy Department
  • Mental Health Ireland in particular Martin Rogan, Linda Thorpe, Jill O ‘Herlihy, Carmen Bryce, Sonia Rennicks ,Gina Delaney
  • Wexford Local Development in particular Mary Dunphy
  • Liam Kelly, Transport and Logistics
  • Wexford Art Centre Staff and in particular Elizabeth Whyte.
  • Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group
  • Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland in particular the Ann Beckett Committee
  • Office of Mental Health Engagement and Recovery
  • Chameleon Creatives – Lynda Harmon
  • Carlow IT Wexford Campus Arts Department,

And to all of our friends and supporters who came out of the shadows to support with such warmth, creativity and generosity of spirit from the inception of this project.

Niall O Muiri, Paula Lowney and Mairead Connaughton (Discover/Recover Project Team)