Authors (including presenting author) :
So YY (1), D. Nguyen (2), Li MS (3), Yuen SK(4), Lam KC(5), Leung CH (6), R Lo (7), Lee KY(8), Leung SK (9)
Affiliation :
(1-9) Kwai Chung Hospital
Introduction :
There is an increasing amount of scientific researches which evidence art enhances brain function. It has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system, and can actually raise serotonin levels. In Kwai Chung Hospital, using spray-painted graffiti is the first time as a mental health promotional activity with service users, community partners, hospital staffs and volunteers.
Objectives :
To promote “Care for ALL” (關愛共融，有你有我) and enhance social inclusion through visual art- based graffiti activity.
Methodology :
The three mixed-type groups had been divided. Each group consisted of students, teacher, hospital staffs, Persons-in-recovery with mental illness, carers, hospital volunteers and peer support workers. The three rounds of graffiti activity had been organized on three-consecutive Saturdays. The duration of activity was within 2 hours. The briefing sessions had been provided by three professional graffiti teachers. The evaluation and video-recorded interview were conducted after activity.
Result & Outcome :
The 100 participants had been recruited (M: 42; F: 58). The age ranged from 7 to 69. The art wall (28.5m long x 1.2 m high) in Day Recovery Centre, Kwai Chung Hospital had been completed on 8 November 2019. Total of 98% showed satisfaction towards the graffiti activity (5 students, 1 teacher, 6 Peer Support Workers with mental illness, 45 Persons-in-recovery, 23 carers, 5 hospital volunteers & 15 hospital staffs). The 18 interviewees had been video-recorded with written consent. The 18 interviewees stated that the spray-painted graffiti activity could enhance social inclusion, psychological wellbeing and cohesion. The outcome had also been published on HASLink on 29 Nov 2019, newspaper on 17 Dec 2019 and was broadcasted on 3 Jan 2020 in radio.
