We're working with the Young Vic Theatre to help teenagers

Teenagers who are experiencing mental health problems have been exploring their feelings through drama, thanks to a series of workshops run by the Young Vic Theatre.

The program has been running since 2007 and is open to teenagers between 14 and 18 years who are patients of SLaM's child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and have been encouraged by their clinician to take part.

The teenagers attend the workshops weekly for two hours over a two - three month period. The sessions use improvisation exercises to build confidence, encourage group work, co-operation, self expression and imagination.

An example of an exercise intended to build trust, is being led around the room with eyes closed by another person which the teenagers then feedback how they felt doing the exercise; strange, frustrated, uneasy, controlled.

Over the three month period, the improvisation leads to a performance which is scripted out and refined by the students. A structure isn't imposed on the students and instead they are encouraged to define for themselves what form the performance should take.

Clinicians actually participate in the classes, and join in the exercises to help ensure students are comfortable. Trainee directors from the Young Vic take part alongside more experienced directors, meaning it is a learning opportunity for everyone involved.

A student clinician who attended the workshops believes drama therapy helps teenagers to gain a fresh perspective on their treatment.

"I feel that this project helps the young people see the outside world away from clinics, surgeries and even clinicians. While clinicians take an active role in the theatre workshops, they are away from a treatment setting and are primarily there for insurance."

A mother who's daughter 'J' has been attending the workshops for some time, believe the workshop has been crucial to her daughter coming to terms with her problems and progressing her recovery.

"She has learnt a lot of skills that she can also use in everyday life, such as team work and breathing techniques. As the weeks went on, she has made friends who she has kept in touch with.

"I get the impression that they talked to each other about their health and how it affects them. J now realises that she isn't on her own."

Since taking part in the workshops, 'J' is pursuing a career in the theatre and successfully auditioned for the Young Vic's production of King Lear. This prompted her mother to write SLaM to say thank you for helping her daughter along the road to recovery.

"None of this would have been achieved without SLaM's dedication to help young people and decrease the stigma surrounded mental health. Thank you to the team that works with my daughter.

"Young people need your project, so they know they are not alone and it's alright to find things hard. This project reminds them that life can get better if they believe in themselves and carry on."

The project was initiated by Marianne Caitane, CAMHS Patient and Public Involvement Facilitator, in partnership with the Young Vic. Marianne engages with young people and their families in a creative way and carries out consultations with parents, carers and the teenagers about their experiences of CAMHS and how they think services can be improved.