Mental Health is a key strand to the partnership between University of Strathclyde and New York University (NYU). There is a shared passion for the co-creation of initiatives with local communities, and also for harnessing the healing powers of arts and skills’ development. You can read more about the collaborations by clicking on the link below.
https://www.strath.ac.uk/whystrathclyde/news/2023/shapingthefutureofmentalhealthresearch/
Two of our co-investigators, Professors Marion Henderson and Neil Quinn, from Work Strand 6 attended the sessions and events hosted at NYU in May 2023. We were very inspired by the visit to John V. Lyndsay (JVL) Academy Wildcat Café in The Bronx. JVL enables young people who have faced disadvantage, and consequently struggled with mainstream schools, to be supported to attend JVL until they are 21 years of age (longer than mainstream schools) and to receive education from staff who are trained to support those who have faced disadvantage and trauma. Students at JVL can re-engage with the curriculum for external examination, while they are also offered interactive and employability skills.
The JVL Wildcat Café teaches catering skills, and some of their ex-students now work in catering, and some in leading restaurants. The Wildcat Café also thinks of sustainability and environmental issues, and grows some of its own produce. It was a joy to meet the students, who seemed to enjoy and value their learning and experiences at JVL and the Wildcat Café! We witnessed the students preparing food in the kitchen, and even walked into the freezer, brrr! Then at the end of the food preparation, we tasted the food, it was delicious!!
Finally, other highlights included hearing about how mental health was being addressed using arts to build connection in communities, and to help increase understanding among families! We are inspired and enthusiastic to explore these ideas with adolescents’ living in Malawi! ~ by Prof Marion Henderson (Co-Investigator WS4)
