An exhibition showcasing art created by people with lived experience of mental health services has launched in South London.

‘Art for Anxiety’, organized by national charity, Ambient Support, runs throughout May at Maudsley Hospital to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May).

Carmel Woolmington, art strategy manager at Bethlem Gallery and South London and Maudsley Trust, said: “We are delighted to partner with Ambient Support for Mental Health Awareness Week. As organisations championing greater awareness and understanding of mental health, we share an ethos to shape a creative landscape which encourages this awareness, and support artists with lived experience of mental health services.

“Drawing on this year’s theme of anxiety, we hope this exhibition highlights the therapeutic impact of arts practice; that art can be a powerful form of expression; and a way to respond to anxious thoughts and feelings.”

The exhibition focuses on art created at Ambient Support’s ‘Art for Anxiety’ workshops in several of their mental health services in London to provide safe and encouraging creative spaces for participants to explore MHAW’s 2023 theme of ‘anxiety’.

Ambient occupational therapy technician, Melissa Charlton, who helped to facilitate and co-ordinate the art sessions, said: “Our mental health art sessions enabled the people we support at Ambient to tap into their inner thoughts, feelings and experiences of anxiety through creative expression. We encouraged them to talk about the images they created and to begin to look to themselves for meaning and insight.

“Combined with staff supporting the art sessions, it helped participants promote self-expression, increase self-awareness and self-worth, and decrease stress and anxiety. All who participated emanated satisfaction and enjoyment.”