Why Should You Donate?

• Untapped Art Therapy provides Art Psychotherapy to vulnerable children and young people. We aim to reduce youth suicide and self-harm locally (in the BCP area – Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) using Art Psychotherapy.

Our work directly reduces the ‘treatment gap’ between a likely 2-year-plus CAMHS wait/ lack of statutory funding and paying for private therapy by delivering at least 65% of our work for free.

A 2017 systematic review conducted by Coram and the Pear Foundation found that Arts Therapy is an effective means of treating vulnerable children, particularly in the areas of adoption, attachment, anxiety, grief and bereavement, trauma, behavioural and social interaction difficulties, neurodiverse challenges such as special educational needs, Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). All of these challenges can contribute to suicide and self-harm.

WHO DO WE WORK WITH?

1. We work with individuals and groups online (nationally), and locally in hospitals, hospices, family centres, schools, GP surgeries and charities in community settings in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. We also have two garden studios and a therapy dog. We can provide specialist trauma therapy – CATT (Children’s Accelerated Trauma Technique)

• In 2023, we delivered over 1000 hours of Art Therapy reaching over 70 young people individually or in groups.
• This year we will deliver 1500-plus sessions of individual Art Therapy to 100 CYP, as well as 60 Art Therapy Groups to 464 participants with 1 full-time and 5 part-time Art Psychotherapists. Each client is typically offered 18 individual sessions, and groups are 12 weeks long for 8 people at a time. Creative self-regulation strategies are demonstrated alongside the therapeutic aspects of the work so that skills can be carried forward and built upon after each project ends. 

WHO BENEFITS FROM OUR WORK?

We receive many referrals from families who cannot afford to pay for private therapy and are concerned by lengthy CAMHS/NHS waiting times for psychological therapy having a negative impact.  They may have also been denied access to statutory psychological support due to lack of funds. 65% of our work is currently delivered discounted or free. We put 11% of our profits towards this work, and continually fundraise to improve on this figure. We have been funded by BCP Council (via EHCP provision), The National Lottery Community Fund, Dorset CCG and NHS Charities Together, as well as annual art auctions, fundraising events run by volunteers. Our most recent fundraiser is Art Battle Bournemouth.

Our expertise lies in supporting children and young people (CYP) aged 5-25 who are neurodiverse. These individuals may have been emotionally vulnerable even before the COVID-19 pandemic and are currently experiencing greater distress due to their mental health challenges. They may be at risk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, hearing voices, or may have experienced sexual abuse, or be looked after. Any previous trauma or bullying they have faced may have a more significant impact on this client group due to their disability or vulnerability. Additionally, many of these CYP have been unable to attend school due to anxiety, depression, or challenges related to neurodiversity.

Unfortunately, accessing psychological support via the EHCP, Adoption Support Fund, or GP/CAMHS can be difficult to access for these clients. Funding and grants typically only support mental health provision that is not statutorily provided, leaving many CYP falling through the cracks and ending up in crisis.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES OUR WORK MAKE?

 Our work is directly aimed at reducing suicide and self-harm among vulnerable children and young people (CYP). Our approach is particularly well-suited to this group, who often struggle to understand and articulate their emotions. By engaging in Art Therapy, CYP experience an improved sense of self, enhanced mental well-being, and increased engagement and achievement in education and employment, significantly improving their life chances and those of future generations. According to the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH), anxiety is one of the main reasons why children drop out of school.

By supporting this client group now, we can actively assist NHS/CAMHS services in reducing future costs related to medication, psychological interventions, A&E visits, and hospital stays. We are aware that the typical three-week stay in an adolescent psychiatric unit costs more than £10500 (King’s Fund, 2008).

5 CYP who participated in a recent Art Therapy Group stated:
The ATG helped to reduce my anxiety – 72%
My school attendance has increased – 67%
I regularly use self-regulation techniques I learned in the ATG – 83%                                                              I feel less lonely – 74%
Thoughts of hurting myself have reduced – 85%

I would recommend this group to a friend – 81%

Quotes from CYP after attending the Art Therapy Groups

“I’ve made new friends”

(the group has supported me personally) “just by being there and listening”

“I feel like I can talk to people”

“My anxiety has reduced”

“I will use the creative self-regulation techniques”

“I’ve felt less lonely or isolated”

Quote from a parent, after their child had attended 20 individual sessions of Art Psychotherapy

“My son has so far benefitted immensely from sessions with Sue and he continues to. Having experienced more than his fair share of bullying and extreme anxiety, at 15 years old he was withdrawn and without any confidence in himself. It was always going to be a challenge for any therapist to reach him and have him feel secure enough to open up. Sue continues to offer him a safe space to ‘be himself’ once a week. She meets him where he is at and he has warmed to her kindness and curiosity in and about him. The results so far have been that he has begun initiating conversations and sharing and de-constructing some of those really difficult events that he experienced in the past. He is reflecting and beginning to ‘unburden’ himself. I cannot express fully how huge that is for us, in our experience with our son. He enjoys Sue’s company and her creative approach to connecting with him. He has been able to grow in trust and comfort with her and we are now really beginning to reap the rewards as he shares a bit more of himself with us and with the world.”

HOW DOES ART PSYCHOTHERAPY REDUCE YOUTH SUICIDE?

Art psychotherapy can be a powerful tool in preventing youth suicide by providing a creative and nonverbal outlet for expression, enhancing self-awareness, and fostering emotional resilience. 

Here’s how it helps:

NONVERBAL EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS 

• • Art as a Safe Outlet: Many young people struggle to articulate their feelings with words, especially when dealing with intense emotions like depression, anxiety, or trauma. Art provides a safe and nonjudgmental way to express these feelings. Through drawing, painting, or other creative activities, they can externalize their inner turmoil, which can be difficult to convey verbally.
  • Reduction of Emotional Pressure: By expressing emotions visually, youth can experience a release of emotional pressure. This can lead to a decrease in feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and overwhelm—factors that often contribute to suicidal thoughts.

ENHANCING SELF-AWARENESS AND INSIGHT

• Reflection and Understanding: Art therapy encourages introspection. As youth create art, they often gain insights into their thoughts and behaviors. This process can help them recognize underlying issues contributing to their distress, such as unresolved trauma or negative self-perceptions.

              Identifying Patterns: Therapists can help youth identify patterns in their artwork that reveal their emotional state, helping them to better understand and manage their emotions.

• BUILDING EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE
• • Developing Coping Mechanisms: Through art therapy, youth can explore and develop healthier coping mechanisms. The creative process itself can be therapeutic, teaching patience, problem-solving, and self-soothing techniques.
  • Empowerment and Control: Creating art gives youth a sense of control and empowerment, which is often lacking in those with suicidal ideation. This sense of agency can be crucial in reducing feelings of helplessness. 2.
  • Facilitating Communication and Connection

• • Bridging Communication Gaps: Art therapy can bridge communication gaps between youth and their therapists, caregivers, or peers. It can be especially useful for those who find it hard to talk about their feelings. Through their artwork, they can communicate complex emotions and experiences that might be difficult to express otherwise.
  • Strengthening Relationships: The shared experience of creating and discussing art can strengthen the therapeutic relationship, fostering trust and a sense of connection. Feeling understood and supported by a therapist or group can reduce feelings of isolation and contribute to a sense of belonging.

REDUCING STIGMA AND SHAME

• • Normalizing Emotional Expression: Art therapy normalizes the expression of difficult emotions, reducing the stigma often associated with mental health struggles. This can help youth feel less ashamed of their feelings, making them more likely to seek help.
  • Validation of Experience: Art therapists can validate the youth’s experiences and emotions, helping them feel seen and heard, which is vital in reducing the sense of invisibility that often accompanies suicidal thoughts.

• 1. Early Identification of Suicidal Thoughts

• • Assessment Through Art: Art therapists are trained to recognize signs of distress and suicidal ideation in the artwork of youth. Changes in themes, use of color, or recurring symbols can provide clues to the youth’s mental state, allowing for early intervention.
  • Prompting Discussion: Artwork can prompt discussions about thoughts of self-harm or suicide in a way that feels less confrontational or threatening, encouraging youth to open up about their feelings.

In summary, art psychotherapy offers a holistic approach to preventing youth suicide by providing a unique and effective way to explore, express, and manage difficult emotions. It can empower young people to develop resilience, enhance self-awareness, and build connections, all of which are crucial in mitigating the risk of suicide.