An oral history project capturing the voices of people who have used or worked in NHS mental health services in Sussex has arrived in Worthing.
The “Living Histories” exhibition is being delivered by Heads On, the charity of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and explores decades of mental health care through first-hand experiences. It marks the second phase of the project, following its launch at the De La Warr Pavilion, and will later move on to Crawley.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, NHS Charities Together and Heads On, the project documents the life stories of people connected to mental health services. It spans a period from the closure of asylums in the 1980s through to the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
At its core are the voices of people rarely represented in historical records — including those living with severe and complex mental health conditions, as well as the professionals and carers who support them.
Rachel Blair, Grants and Programmes Manager for Heads On, said: “We are so pleased at the response so far to this project, and we’re delighted to bring it to Worthing. Thank you to the wonderful team at Colonnade House who have made this possible. Living Histories share stories that must not be lost. We are proud to contribute to a conversation about how we hear from and learn from people’s real-life experiences of NHS mental health services.
“Through the Living Histories exhibition, we continue our commitment to challenging mental health stigma through listening to and amplifying the voices of people who can otherwise often go unheard. In the context of people's whole life stories, the Living Histories exhibition provides a snapshot of these stories and celebrates the resilience of human nature in the face of some of our greatest challenges.”
Over the course of a year, 15 volunteers were recruited and trained to record 35 in-depth interviews across Sussex. From these, seven podcast episodes have been produced, exploring themes including care, recovery, relationships and identity.
All audio clips are taken directly from participants’ accounts, allowing individuals to describe their experiences in their own words.
Organisers say the project comes at a critical time, as first-hand accounts from the shift away from institutional care risk being lost, while also documenting the lasting impact of the pandemic on mental health services.
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