Creativity is the key (From Penarth Times)

Creativity is the key

HARNESSING creative talent is the best way to help people recovering from mental illness to get their lives back on track, according to the director of Mind in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Paul Clerke is the Vale director of the charity, which has a centre on Windsor Road, Penarth.

He said: "We focus on people's potential.

"There is a danger that people with mental health problems start to see themselves as just a bundle of problems.

"We need them to start to looking at themselves positively and the best way to do that is to build on the skills they have and to get them to realise just what they are capable of."

Mind's Doves Centre on Windsor Road helps its users to develop skills in a number of ways and staff emphasise the importance of creativity as a therapy.

The centre has its own flower and vegetable gardens which are tended by users, who also learn to cook a range of cakes and dishes which are sold at the Mind-run cafeteria at Barry Railway Station.

Paul Clerke explained: "We don't want centre users to get stuck here.

"The idea is to equip them with life skills and to improve their employment opportunities by helping them to readjust to a working environment, as well as building their self-esteem and confidence.

"We also run art and crafts workshops using a variety of media.

"The quality of some of the work produced is astounding.

"The depth of creative talent and skill among people recovering from mental health problems is there to be harnessed.

"We believe that mental health problems are very common and can affect any person at any stage of their lives," he added.

"We believe that many of the ideas people have about mental illness are based on fear and prejudice.

"We are committed to challenging these misunderstandings."