Cavan General Hospital hosted an Arts and Health Awareness Day on 28th February, in collaboration with HSE Healthy Ireland, Creative Ireland, Cavan County Council Arts Office, Réalta, and local artists Sally-Ann Duffy and Caroline Clarke.
Hospital staff contributed their ideas on enhancing arts engagement to benefit the health and wellbeing of patients, staff, and visitors. The artists provided drop-in Neurographic Art activities throughout the day, a mindful drawing technique designed to lessen the pressures of everyday life and put your mind into a relaxed state of flow.
Staff from all areas of the hospital participated in the event, including midwifes, radiographers, clinical nurse managers, pharmacists and clerical staff. There was widespread enthusiasm about bringing the arts into the hospital environment, with staff noting that arts and creativity could ‘help patients cope with an illness’, ‘stimulate the minds of patients,’ ‘create a more pleasing environment for staff and patients,’ and ‘improve everyone’s mood’.
In terms of how staff might benefit from arts and creativity, participants responded that arts activities could ‘improve the mental health of staff’, ‘support team building’ and ‘play a role in professional development’.
Lynda McGrory, Healthy Ireland lead for CMH, who was part of the organising team, remarked: “This work will assist in improvements within the Cavan Monaghan approach to Health and Wellbeing at Cavan General Hospital. By the engagement in arts activities this can be a form of stress relief and a way to improve emotional well-being. Creative outlets allow staff to express themselves, reduce burnout, and foster a more positive, balanced environment.”
All information and feedback received will be reviewed by the team involved to identify ideas and ways to progress and promote arts and health in Cavan General Hospital. As part of this initiative, a €1,250 bursary has been provided by Creative Ireland for a staff art project that will result in the creation of a group artwork for display in the hospital.