Putting mental health in the spotlight

As the famous twin-masked symbol suggests, tragedy and comedy are equal parts of the picture in the world of theatre. Those two faces, one laughing, one crying, show that theatres have the power to move us. They can raise smiles, bring tears, make us think. It follows that theatres can be great places for our mental health. After all, taking part in creative and cultural activities is good for both mind and body.

Because whatever type of participation you prefer, going to the theatre gets us out and about. It gives us opportunities for social connection. It stimulates our grey matter. In fact, a recent statistic has put a remarkable number to all this. It claims that theatres’ help with the physical and mental health of their communities means an annual cost saving for the NHS of over £100 million.

Fresh forms of support

So theatres are already a big advantage for our sense of wellbeing. But could they provide more creative support, particularly for people’s mental health? It’s an area that OnFife has had some experience with recently. Our Ways to Wellbeing Festival has offered various ideas and opportunities for interesting activities and mood improvement. Likewise, our #ShineOnFife campaign kept audiences engaged during the pandemic while venues were shut, helping to put smiles on faces during a time of immense change.

The Adam Smith Theatre is in the final stages of its own big change. It will reopen as our community and the wider country continue to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic. It will also likely do so during a recession and as households struggle with cost-of-living hardships. So any initiatives that our new venue can be involved in, to provide further help for the mental health of our community, will surely be welcome.

Please get in touch by DM: @RelevantOnFife, email: relevant@relevantonfife.co.uk, or by simply leaving a comment below.