Our Self-Harm service uses animation to aid recovery

Residents at Dower House, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's (SLaM) adult Self-harm service, have developed an animated short film.

Titled 'The Perspex Human', the short film was developed by patients and staff on the unit and in the Occupational Therapy department, under the guidance of experienced animator Assaf Hayut.  The animation project asked participants the question 'what is in a human?' The theme provided residents with an enjoyable creative project which enabled them to explore both the literal interpretations as well as exploring deeper meanings and emotions such as anxiety and depression.

The four-and-a-half-minute animation was developed over a five-month period.  Six residents from Dower House took part in the project, along with staff members from the Self-harm Service and members of Bethlem Royal Hospital's Occupational Therapy department.

Residents were encouraged to make their own fictional or biographical stories, and to produce a storyboard.  A great deal of time was devoted to the project, and residents displayed sensitivity and emotion as the animation was developed.  More than 2000 images were produced over 16 sessions, and edited down into the final film.

Assaf Hayut has worked with SLaM before, delivering collaborative creative projects for residents in ward environments and within the specialised technical environment of the Bethlem's Occupational Therapy department. The animated films produced have been screened in the Bethlem Gallery during exhibitions for World Mental Health Day (2009 and 2010) and are hosted on the SLaM website.

Mr Hayut said the detailed nature of animation meant it was not like standard therapeutic tools, but in time, residents took great pride and satisfaction in the project.  Participants learnt basic animation techniques, and the project also encouraged better communication between patients and staff members.

"The project offered residents a non-judgemental and open environment that supported their emotional expression", Mr Hayut said.  "During the animation workshops, patients were communicating issues relevant to their treatment, and many opened up more in the less formal environment.

"The patients had a story to tell, and wanted to share it.  I was amazed by the care, the companionship, the pace and the creativity the people involved had expressed.  Participants laughed, enjoyed, learnt, explored and shared."

The feedback from Dower House residents on the animation project has been overwhelmingly positive, with one resident saying it had boosted morale within the house.

Another participant said, "it was an amazing experience to see the final animation take shape.  There was such a community feel to the process; it brought us together in a way that I'd never thought it possible.  There we were, discussing self-harm and creating a unique perspective."

One patient said, "it was almost liberating to be able to express ourselves in a visual way and to explain our journey with self-harm, something which for me, has been kept a secret for so long.  Just knowing that there are other people who understand self-harm can make a difference and I really hope that this animation can make this difference for others who self-harm."

SLaM's Self-harm Service is for people who repeatedly self-harm and who have chronic interpersonal difficulties. The service has been designed to work with people whom other services have found difficult to help and who make frequent use of emergency services or multiple care agencies.  Treatment is offered on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Dr Paul Moran, Consultant Psychiatrist for the Self-harm Service, said the animation project had provided residents with a creative outlet and aided recovery.

"The Perspex Human makes very compelling viewing.  It powerfully captures the emotional turbulence associated with self-harm and also the struggles associated with learning to cope without self-harming. The service users who put this together should be very proud of their achievement."

Peter O'Hare, Head of Occupational Therapy for SLaM, said "the animation project tapped into the powerful potential of modern creative media to empower individuals in their quest to make sense of their lived experience, and as part of their recovery to share that experience, on their own terms, with a wider audience."

Many residents at Dower House have been diagnosed with a Borderline Personality Disorder and also have a range of other mental health problems, including eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and alcohol or drug misuse. They often have enduring emotional problems linked to severe and adverse experiences during their early life.

Self-harm Service inpatient residents are offered a range of treatments, including individual safety planning sessions, occupational therapy, group sessions on topics such as coping strategies, movement psychotherapy and family therapy, all aimed to reduce the number of self-harm incidents.  Patients leave SLaM with reduced anxiety and depression, and enhanced self-esteem.

Jane Bunclark, Clinical Service Lead said "Creative media like this animation project enable the residents to communicate their pain, distress and powerful emotions in a healthier way, than through using their bodies via self-harm as a canvass for communication."

Dower House regularly receives appreciative and positive feedback from departing residents, as illustrated by the comments from this former patient:

"Thanks for the space to explore my emotions and for tolerating my stubbornness.  Not only have I learnt valuable lessons to take with me, I also have valuable memories of trust, care and friendship to keep.  My admission to the unit has allowed me to discover who I am and has given me a lot more optimism for the future.  It has been a struggle at times, but I wouldn't have changed any part of it, because it has got me to this point.  I feel I'm leaving here, and going on to bigger and better things."

For further information on SLaM's Self-harm Service visit: www.national.slam.nhs.uk/selfharm