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ATTUNE

ATTUNE: A national consortium of academic, public sector, VCS and charity partners developing interdisciplinary research into arts and mental health through participatory arts-based research.

  • Project details
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    Project details

    Project leadsProfessor Minhua Eunice Ma, Anna Mankee-Williams and Professor Kam Bhui
    Start dateApril 2020
    End dateOngoing
    Project websiteheadstartkernow.org.uk/learning/local-learning/
    Programme alignmentDesign for Health and Wellbeing

    The ATTUNE research collaboration is seeking to explore the individual, environmental, social, economic, educational and geographical factors that have an impact on the mental health of young people, both positive and negative.

    In phase one of the ATTUNE collaboration aimed at informing all future work, we undertook a series of participatory co-discovery activities with young people. The results of the activities will inform further collaborative research work within the ATTUNE research consortium.

    A developing area of interest is on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which can have a profound impact on lifetime mental health of young people, including a significant reduction in life expectancy of up to 20 years. The Attune consortium is actively seeking opportunities to further explore this area.

    Project team

    The ATTUNE consortium is a national consortium that includes clinicians, academics and service providers from across the UK. The consortium is jointly led by Professor Eunice Ma (Falmouth University and Professor Kam Bhui (Oxford University).

    The Falmouth team includes a number of lecturers and researchers with a keen interest in this area of mental health, wellbeing, co-discovery and co-design within creative practice. Other consortium members are listed in our partner section.

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Professor Eunice Ma

    Provost

    Professor Minhua Eunice Ma is the Provost of Falmouth University in the UK. She is a world-leading...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Anna Mankee-Williams

    Senior Research Fellow Innovation and Technology in Health and Care

    Anna is a Senior Research Fellow for Innovation and Technology in Health and Care. She has 22 years...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Professor Tanya Krzywinska

    Professor of Digital Games

    Tanya started playing computer-based games on Usenet when working at the Digital Equipment...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Professor David Prior

    Director of Research

    David joined Falmouth as associate professor in Music and Sound Art in 2010. Now as Director of...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Ruth Heholt

    Senior Lecturer

    Ruth Heholt is senior lecturer in BA(Hons) English. She has published on ghosts and the Gothic and...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Bryan Clark

    Head of Graphic Design

    Bryan leads the subject of Graphic Design at Falmouth and is responsible for the undergraduate...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Sasha Dobrota

    Lecturer Cultural Management & Production

    Sasha has been producing and managing cultural projects, experiences and events for the last...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Norah Lorway

    Lecturer, BA(Hons) Creative Music Technology

    Originally from Canada, Norah is a computer musician, computer programmer and composer who has...

    Partners

    ATTUNE is in partnership with the following people and organisations:

    • Professor Kam Bhui CBE, Oxford University
    • Dr Siobhan Hugh-Jones, Associate Professor in Mental Health Psychology at the University of Leeds
    • Dr Mina Fazel, Associate Professor School-based mental health interventions, Oxford University
    • Professor Nicola Shaugnessy, Kent University, contemporary performance, autobiography, applied and socially engaged theatre with specialist research interests in the neurodiverse population.
    • Dr Sania Shakoor Lecturer in Mental Health, Centre for Psychiatry, QMUL
    • Daisy Fancourt, Associate Professor of Psychiobiology & Epidemiology/Wellcome RF, UCL
    • Professor Peter Fongay, Professor Epidemiology/Wellcome RF, UCL
    • Professor Craig Moran, Professor of Social Epidemiology, KCL
    • Paul Mcrone, Health Economics, Greenwich University
    • Georgina Hosang, Senior Lecturer in Chronic Disease Management, QMUL
    • Cornwall Council
    • Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust
    • Young People Cornwall
    • Aardman Animations
    • NSPCC

    Outcomes & outputs

    To gauge an understanding of the use and appeal of creative practices in mental health and wellbeing research, we conducted an online survey amongst University students at Falmouth. The findings of the study (n=58) suggest that the 'virtual' and 'real' environment are equally important as outlets for creative practice. Amongst the participants 83% view digital modes (i.e. applications, VR/AR gaming) as being useful for diagnosis and providing therapeutic support for mental health problems, specifically depression, anxiety and trauma. Significantly, 55% identified 'university to employment' as a stressful life transition followed by 34% who indicated 'A-level to university' was the most challenging.

    The HeadStart Learning Report identified the challenges of surveying younger adolescents (10 – 16 years) during the Covid-19 lockdown period using a purely digital approach with no peer or face-to-face support. The learning from this activity, alongside the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on young people will inform future research activities and engagement methodology.

    The Padlet Participation event held by Oxford University and the Leeds Care Leavers PPI focus group confirmed perceptions that: Creative arts can help young people express their voices and reduce stress levels whilst doing so, however all research in this area with young people must make sure that young people are appropriately supported. This includes support for young people as they move from digital and virtual world experiences into physical and real-world experiences. There was support for the consortium focus on rural, remote and deprived areas and for the consortium approach of capturing lived experience and user centred design. The young people engaged in the focus groups all highlighted that choice of engagement (digital and physical) is preferred.

    Useful links

    • www.headstartkernow.org.uk/
    • www.headstartkernow.org.uk/learning/local-learning/
    • www.startnowcornwall.org.uk/coronavirus/
    HeadStart Kernow Learning Report 2020 (903.27 KB)

    Impact & recognition

    The ATTUNE consortium through its research is seeking to influence policy makers, health care commissioners and providers, and all organisations and settings that work with and for young people.

    Project media

    Public media for ATTUNE includes:

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