How can we use co-design and creativity to improve physical health and wellbeing?

Theme lead: Dr Deborah Maxwell, School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York

The creativity theme will explore the potential of participatory design and creative practices to understand and improve the physical health and wellbeing of people with SMI. We will facilitate collaborations between academics, people with SMI, and creative practitioners, for example creative writers, poets, performers, artists, designers and digital makers.

Our research aims to empower and give ownership to people with SMI; thereby challenging and subverting existing and established power dynamics. Outputs will span media and disciplines, aligning and complementing other Closing the Gap themes. This theme will explore innovative, creative ways to interpret key network outputs - for example interventions, publications and reports - that increase wellbeing and physical activity. This will form an exemplar for a transformative programme of participatory research beyond the network.

Join the network