All the service users were encouraged to take part by exhibiting their work. Exhibits ranged from photographs, drawings, poems to knitted items such as blankets and dolls. There were six themes to the exhibition:
Celebrating the International Women’s Day – Service users and staff chose pictures of inspiring women and created a collage to celebrate the International Women’s Day on the 8th of March.
“Scars speak more loudly than the sword that caused them” (Paulo Coehlo) – Taking inspiration from Paulo Coehlo’s quote, service users used drawings and collages to express their feeling about their fight to overcome self-harming behaviours.
F.L.Y – First Love Yourself – Positive quotes and poems were written by our service users focusing on positive aspects of their lives.
Mindful Strolls (Photography) – During walking group sessions and free time strolls in the park, service users were encouraged to use their observation skills and be mindful of the present and their surroundings. As a mindful exercise, they took pictures of the physical environment around them.
Hold on tight to your string! (Mind labyrinths) – The inspiration for this project came from the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur where Theseus uses a ball of string to escape the labyrinth. Our service users are trying hard to hold on tight to their ‘string’ and the outcome of these efforts are beautiful handmade cushions, blanket, dolls etc.
‘We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are’ – Service users took a
picture of the same plant, in the same room, at the same time and using the same camera. The outcome proved the hypothesis that everyone’s perceptions are different.
Cygnet Hospital Ealing provides a specialist inpatient service for women with a diagnosis of an eating disorder and / or personality disorder. This includes a unique combined treatment for individuals with both conditions, meaning a secondary diagnosis is not an excluding factor.
For more information about the services provided at the hospital please visit the Cygnet Hospital Ealing page.