An exploration of mental health stigmas and arts-based interventions: a qualitative study

However, within the context of NI there is a significant knowledge gap, of which this research endeavoured to address. This qualitative study (N = 30) conducted semi-structured interviews categorised into 3 response groups: professionals working in the area of mental health and arts-based interventions (n =11) people with lived experience of a mental health difficulty who have engaged with arts-based interventions (n = 10) and artists working in the area of mental health (n = 9).

Following thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2002) findings highlight that mental health stigma is an ongoing problem and that arts-based interventions have the capacity to challenge this. However, the findings also indicate that there are a number of barriers that may prevent individuals who experience mental health difficulties and stigma from accessing arts-based intervention. Future research is required with larger representative samples to further interrogate the relationship between mental health stigma and arts-based interventions and identify the key components of effectiveness.