I’m Fine: Supporting positive mental health through art, writing, poetry, and music

Written by: Megan Binning

homepage

Event Page Instagram Facebook Twitter

Students and staff across the University have come together to bring you 'I’m Fine', a free virtual event taking place on 16th March 2021. The event will explore how the arts can help maintain positive wellbeing, offering talks across all creative areas, including art, poetry, writing and music.

Miranda Spicer, the MA Publishing programme lead, a team of MA Publishing students and BA (Hons) Graphic Communication with Typography student Dan Drury, have collaborated with authors, artists, poets, and publishers to bring to fruition a series of talks and workshops. Primarily aimed at students, this event creates a space for attendees to discover how creative activities can make us feel better and improve our mental health, as well as highlighting the support on offer to those that need it.

I’m Fine understands how crucial it is for all of us to have a safe space and a creative outlet to express how we are feeling. The whole event is about “putting aside the stigma around discussing our mental health and celebrating the ways we can boost our mental well-being through the arts.” I’m Fine also recognises that University can be extremely stressful. You’ve got to study for exams, whilst completing weekly reading and there are just so many deadlines! Why not take a break and explore how the arts can help to maintain positive mental health?

Each talk is delivered by someone who has experience in using creativity, and the arts, to cope with their mental health, enabling students to receive the very best there is to offer.

Join I'm Fine's own Miranda Spicer, as she talks candidly to Sunday Times bestselling author Raynor Winn. Winn will touch on how her mental health was affected after her husband received a terminal diagnosis and how writing The Salt Path and The Wild Silence helped her cope.

Poet, singer, MC, multi-instrumentalist producer, and theatre-maker Dizraeli opens up to fellow poet and performer Mama Tokus about how music and performing helped him explore his feelings, express himself and ultimately find his calm.

Another guest speaker is Emma Carlisle, an artist and illustrator, who decided to rediscover her visual language after she realised her work was no longer making her happy. Emma is a prime example of how art can change a person’s wellbeing and be used to explore expression. Emma will be delivering a workshop called ‘Healing through Drawing’, which discusses and demonstrates how drawing can be beneficial to maintaining positive mental wellbeing.

Also speaking at I’m Fine is Plymouth’s Mayflower 400 Young City Laureate for 2019-2022 Holly Peters, who will be delivering a talk on, ‘The Power of Poetry’. Holly has always found reading and writing as a great escape from the world when it becomes overwhelming, especially when she can’t get to the sea. She wants to help people explore poetry just like she did and use it to their advantage.

When I approached, Holly Peters about the work that I’m Fine is doing, she said:

“The relationship between arts and mental health is so important. For me, art has always been a way I can distract myself on bad days and I’ve always found that poetry allows me to channel my emotions and make sense of them, especially when I’m feeling low or overwhelmed. But also, reading books or listening to songs or any other kind of art that reflects how you’re feeling can remind you that you aren’t alone and that is something quite special. That’s why I’m so excited to be part of an event that celebrates the relationship between art and mental health. I don’t think we talk enough about how important that connection is.”

Mental health is so important; it is extremely difficult to remain in a positive mindset. Art, creative writing, and music can make us feel happy, relaxed, and positive whilst helping us escape from aspects of reality. People can use art as a way of expressing themselves and release any pent-up emotions and feelings. Create a beautiful drawing, write a fantastical poem, or belt out your favourite tune.

If you would like to find out more information about the events, register your place, read the programme, or find out more about the guest speakers please visit our website .