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oai:figshare.com:article/32805821 2026-10-01T16:12:43Z portal_1172 item_type_8 month_year_10_2026

An exploration of mental health stigmas and arts-based interventions: a qualitative study Brenda Rose Brady (24292949) PUREID: 689507911 Stigma mental health arts-based intervention This study explored experiences of mental health stigma and arts-based interventions in Northern Ireland (NI). The main aim of this research was to better understand how engagement with the arts may address and challenge stigma and promote help-seeking behaviours. The rationale for undertaking this research was underpinned by the knowledge that NI has well-documented high rates of poor mental health, understood to be 25% higher than the remainder of the United Kingdom (UK) with one in five adults impacted at any one time. The stigma associated with poor mental health has been widely cited as a major factor in preventing individuals from seeking timely and appropriate support. There is now an increased recognition of the potential of arts-based interventions to promote physical as well as positive mental wellbeing. These have also been noted to challenge mental health stigma and promote help-seeking behaviours. However, within the context of NI there is a significant knowledge gap, of which this research endeavoured to address. This qualitative study (N = 30) conducted semi-structured interviews categorised into 3 response groups: professionals working in the area of mental health and arts-based interventions (n =11) people with lived experience of a mental health difficulty who have engaged with arts-based interventions (n = 10) and artists working in the area of mental health (n = 9). Following thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2002) findings highlight that mental health stigma is an ongoing problem and that arts-based interventions have the capacity to challenge this. However, the findings also indicate that there are a number of barriers that may prevent individuals who experience mental health difficulties and stigma from accessing arts-based intervention. Future research is required with larger representative samples to further interrogate the relationship between mental health stigma and arts-based interventions and identify the key components of effectiveness. 2026-10-01T16:12:43Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32805821.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/An_exploration_of_mental_health_stigmas_and_arts-based_interventions_a_qualitative_study/32805821 All Rights Reserved