How do we look after ourselves, and seek others for mutual help through creativity and the arts?
“In challenging times the arts can not only feel like respite, but a powerful tool in gaining perspective”
As a group of arts based clinicians we have gathered arts and mindful resources that we think will be helpful for anyone managing and self-caring for their emotional health or who are seeking mutual care through community based activities, whether for adults or children. These suggestions below are not a replacement for our usual psychological services, but can form an important part of treatment or enable us to better look after our wellbeing in challenging times.
For further general information on managing mental health then please follow this link to Mind. For our collection of art and music resources then please use the links below.
Music Resources
Musical expression and Playlists to support your wellbeing
Musical Expression
Play, experiment and discover sound in one of these computer and phone apps:
BandLab free easy-to-use, all-in-one, social music creation platform for smart phones
Nodebeat Music app for iphone and android, intuitive and fun visual music app for all ages (paid)
SoundForest Free app for iphone, a mini music maker that allows you to instantly compose a song using a collection of musical creatures
Blocs Wave Free app that will have you making music in minutes. Slice and chop up exclusive Ampify sounds or easily import your own.
Bloom developed by ambient pioneer Brian Eno and software designer Peter Chilvers. Part instrument, part composition and part artwork, Bloom allows anyone to create elaborate patterns and unique melodies by simply tapping the screen
Music for memory
BBC Music Memories free BBC website designed to use music to help people with dementia reconnect with their most powerful memories. Patients, families or carers can create a personalised playlist for the person with dementia by identifying their Memory Bump and then sampling snippets of music to see if they receive a positive reaction and adding them to the playlist.
100 Years Playlist for Life lists the title and artist of the 100 most popular songs for every year 1915 to 2015 over 230 pages. Each decade is free to download.
Making a Playlist Guidance on how to make your own playlist on Spotify
Music Playlists
Making a Playlist Guidance on how to make your own playlist on Spotify
Music for WellbeingA page for musical self-care. Here you can stay relaxed, help modestly support your immune system (Professor Dave Lee’s lists), simply feel better, feel less lonely and more “connected”, increase your motivation or seek comfort or solace.
The Mindful Mix online radio mixes of meditative classical music for calming moments put together by BBC Sounds
Listen to Music, watch performances
Bella Caledonia : The Howff Bella Caledonia have created this online space to promote artists and musicians who are no longer able to perform live due to coronavirus. Each night features different artists, including opportunities to support them through buying their work online
Join an Online Choir
The Sofa Singersweekly online singing events that brings hundreds of people together from around the world to spark joy and human connection – requires registration and monthly fee.
Art Resources
Craft, Art Making and Looking at Art to lose and find yourself
Make Art + Find Activities
Lose and find yourself with art materials and art making to broaden your indoor horizons.
Craft Projects – Spruce Arts a website full of craft making projects for all ages from needlecraft to origami
Make a Memory Box A memory box can be a great place to keep letters, photos, and other meaningful items. Every memory box is different. Some are colourfully decorated and highly personalized, while others are simple and discreet.
Create a Hope Box A hope box is something you can create for when you need a reminder of why your life is so precious. It is simply a collection of various items that can show you that your life is meaningful and worth living.
Giant list of ideas for being home with kids activities for young people or the young at heart during this time of being at home and physical distancing
Artist Activity Pack assembled by famous artists from Grayson Perry to Antony Gormley, ideas about how to get creative at home. Anyone can have a go – there are no specialist materials required, plus it’s completely free to download.
Hospital Rooms Arts Activity Videos Hospital Rooms provides free Digital Art School workshop creative sessions to support mental health, led by world-class artists.
How finding time for Creativity can give respite from worries Drawing, singing, writing, knitting… lose yourself in something creative to find inner calm. You might also come up with solutions to problems.
Luminate Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation, have developed a new programme of online creative activities that you can do wherever you are.
Look at Art – Online Art Galleries
Looking at art can change how we feel about our situation.
Here are gallery tours, videos and online collections from great galleries around the world available for free.
The National Galleries of Scotland
British Museum, London follow a virtual tour of the museum
The Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition of visual art from across Scotland is now online
The National Gallery in London
The Tate London contemporary and modern art collection
The Louvre in Paris
The Rijks Museum in Amsterdam (Rembrandt, Vermeer, etc)
Google Arts & Culture get inside everywhere from MoMA in New York to the Munch Museum in Oslo, from the British Museum to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris to the Today Art Museum in Beijing
Van Gogh These close-up looks at famous paintings are so intense. Few paintings are suited to such a treatment than the bold, textured lines of The Starry Night.
Dance & Movement Resources
Move your body and engage your mind
Movement and Breath sessions for physical and mental health Designed specifically for NHS and Social Care Teams by Scottish Ballet but accessible to everyone, these 10 minute sessions address physical and mental health concerns in difficult times.
Edinburgh Community Yoga have free breathing, audio guided meditation and chair yoga exercises
Edinburgh Community Yoga YouTube channel has videos on self regulation and seated yoga
Mindfulness
Exercises and Apps to help restore calm
How to Stay Calm in a Pandemic Free e-book with illustrations and helpful advice on managing this time
Mindfulness Exercises a simple factsheet on mindfulness exercises created by Therapist Aid
Headspace online mindfulness and sleep exercises
Poetry Unbound features an immersive exploration of a single poem, guided by Pádraig Ó Tuama. Short and unhurried; contemplative and energizing.
Short Stories for Stressed Grown-upsall you have do is find somewhere quiet, where you won‘t be disturbed, and listen to an original short story that will transport you from the troubles of your day.
KEEP CAMHS AND CARRY ON. Podcast created by NHS Grampian for under 18 year olds. This podcast series is a psychoeducation ‘top tips’ collection, recorded by our very own staff, to make managing stress in tough times just that little bit easier.
31 Day Literary Diet A complete 31 days of immersion in videos and audio relating to literature
The Book of Hopes Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children in Lockdown – a completely free online book to look at and read with children
Psychological Wellness
As a group of psychotherapists based in teams made up of many disciplines we are gathering information about how we can care for ourselves and offer care to one another in our health or care workplace settings.
Workplace Wellness Resources a series of free resources to help improve mental wellbeing in your workplace produced by the charity Mind
