What we do
Taiteen Sulattamo is a mental health association that exists to increase prosperity through art.
Taiteen Sulattamo is open to all and individuals are welcome regardless of skills, age, gender or diagnosis.
Taiteen Sulattamo organises a number of different art workshops focusing on the processes of performing arts. From themes that occur in workshops we choose a topic that our participants want to process. We involve the participants in every part of the process. Within the chosen theme we then create a professionally produced art project, a play for example. The process increases day-to-day management skills and the quality of life of the participants by engagement, involvement and expression.
Commitment towards a common goal – in this case an art project – and working as equals with professional artists has an invaluable impact on individuals in recovery.
We also engage in development projects which create innovations using arts methods in well-being and mental healthcare. These projects are funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. We offer our services to both individuals in recovery and health care personnel.
Kaunis mieli Experts by Experience Activities
“Experts by Experience = people with lived experience of mental illness
There is rich evidence showing that people who have experience of using mental health services are uniquely placed to help plan and develop those services in the future. Service users and their carers are ideally placed to educate and de-stigmatise the issue of mental health one person; one team; one organisation at a time. ”
Kaunis mieli Development Project that lasted three years (2018-2020) created both an educational model and operating model based on arts-based methods. It has now ended but will live on in Kaunis mieli Experts by Experience activities.
Kaunis mieli Experts by Experience have a history of different mental illnesses. They share their experiences with people suffering from different mental health issues or their family and friends. Crisis experiences and internal experience can be difficult to put into clear words. The arts-based methods used by our experts give people a more sensory form of communication than just words.
Our Experts by Experience Educators also educate new Experts by Experience.
Development Project
Arts-based Peer Support
The project creates both a peer support educational program and an operating model based on applied arts. It has educated the first arts-based peer instructors in Finland.
The project has established networks and model practices to enable peer instructors (tutors) to operate. The educational program and operating model are solidly grounded in recovery orientation and sociocultural learning theory.