This research was conducted as part of my PhD Psychology at the University of Huddersfield, supervised by Dr Tim Gomersall, Prof. Mike Lucock, and Prof. Nigel King from the University of Huddersfield, with collaboration from Prof. Andrew Booth, University of Sheffield.

The aim was to explore how and why community arts activities help people to live well with serious mental illness, particularly through a positive identity change.

The research was conducted between 2020-2023 in collaboration with the charitable organisations Creative Minds (South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust), Men’s Talk (Kirklees), Cartwheel Arts (Rochdale) and Moor Allerton Elderly Care (Leeds).

A summary of the research findings and dissemination of the research can be found below, including a community arts project called R3connect that developed artistic responses to the research.

Academic papers and conferences

Peters, L. A., Gomersall, T., Booth, A., & Lucock, M. (2023). Community arts, identity and recovery: A realist review of how community-based arts activities enables the identity change recovery process from serious mental illness. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2751

Peters, L. A., Gomersall, T. & Lucock, M. (2022, June 23). A realist evaluation of how and why community-based arts activities influence the identity change recovery process from serious mental illness. [Poster Presentation]. 5th International Conference of Social Identity and Health (Nottingham) [DOWNLOAD HERE]

Peters, L. A., Gomersall, T. & Lucock, M. (2022, March 11). Community arts, mental health and identity: initial findings from a realist review. [Presentation] 4th International Social Prescribing Network Conference.