A Novel Landscape for Understanding Physical and Mental Health: Body Mapping Research with Youth Experiencing Psychosis

Abstract

Estimates indicate the lifespan of individuals with psychotic illness is reduced by approximately 15-20 years. Consequently there is a need to address the physical health of those who live with a mental illness, like psychosis. The Bondi Centre provides an integrated model of care to young people with a first episode of psychosis. The Keeping the Body In Mind program focuses on prevention and early intervention of physical health issues and is offered alongside treatment for mental health and social issues as part of routine care. We used body mapping, an arts-based research method, to explore the complexity of this physical health intervention. Our aim was to develop an in-depth understanding of experiences of young clients of the early intervention centre, with a particular focus on the embodied relationship between physical and mental health. Six young people engaged in creating life-sized body maps depicting their experience of the physical intervention program over four 3-hour sessions, followed by an in-depth interview. Analysis of our body maps drew on thematic analysis and narrative inquiry. The narrative trope was one of recovery, highlighting the importance of the link between body and mind, individual and community, and the balance between light and darkness. There was an emphasis on developing feelings of connectedness (to self and others), hope and optimism for the future, a sense of having an identity, and a sense of meaning and empowerment. Recovery was conceptualised as an ongoing process rather than an end product or fixed state. Involvement in the body mapping process was consistently identified as therapeutic, offering an opportunity for reflection on the journey to recovery with a focus on past, present and imagined storylines of the future.

The Journey to a Wider Understanding of Ways of Knowing: Knowledge Translation and the Arts

“…The respondents noted that the artworks were interesting, thought provoking, and a powerful way to gain perspective of the experiences of those individuals; it also raised awareness and lowered stigma regarding psychosis. These findings are supported by some of our earlier arts-based dissemination events that indicated they resulted in a greater knowledge base about mental health issues and help seeking (Baker, Willinsky, & Boydell, 2015;Boydell et al, 2018a).…”

“…A range of artistic genres are employed: performative, visual, and literary, which include photography and other visual arts, theatre, music, poetry and dance, digital storytelling, body mapping, and material objects. The benefits of using the arts in research include increased attention to the meaning and experience of health and illness, inclusion of disenfranchised and marginalized communities, and the heightened ability to convey research findings in a way that engages target audiences and facilitates change in health care knowledge, attitudes, and practice (Boydell, Solimine, & Jackson, 2015;Boydell et al, 2018a;Boydell, Gladstone, Stasiulis, Nodin, & Cheng, 2018b;Gray & Kontos, 2015;Cole & Knowles, 2008). On a global level, there has been a continual increase in the number and variety of health research projects adopting an arts-based approach to creating research knowledge and/or disseminating empirical research findings.…”

“…My research program is collaborative and participatory. Our creative and research team has used dance (Boydell 2011a(Boydell , 2011b, mural art (Boydell et al, 2015b), digital storytelling (de Jager, Tewson, Vaughan, Fogarty, Boydell & Belliveau, 2017), body mapping (de Jager, Tewson, Ludlow, & Boydell, 2016;Boydell et al, 2018a), material objects (Romano, McCay, & Boydell, 2012), and multimedia installation art to disseminate research on pathways to mental health care, the experience of mental ill health, and perspectives on novel interventions.…”

“…One recent example of our work in this area has been the use of body mapping to explore the experiences of young people with psychosis (Boydell et al, 2018a). Body mapping is a way of telling stories;…”

Women and Stigma: A Protocol for Understanding Intersections of Experience through Body Mapping

“…The method has a strong social justice history and is intended to be therapeutic. Past participants have noted beneficial effects associated with body mapping, including feelings of affirmation resulting from the opportunity to reflect on their experiences or personal history, and enjoyment derived from art making in a safe, communal environment [ 41 ]. These beneficial effects have the potential to build rapport between participants and researchers, and to create a sense of psychological safety, enabling comfortable and productive data collection to occur.…”