News

www.madforarts.org

Star Rating: 4/5

Art has achieved greater prominence in mental health services in recent years. So it is no surprise to see websites providing a space for people with mental health problems to share their views on art springing up, writes Mark Drinkwater.

The website features downloadable clips from the MadforArts films screened by Channel Five, along with events listings, reviews and discussion boards. It includes a good facility for searching for specific information, but it was easy enough to find local information just by browsing.

What distinguishes this site from others are the hundreds of members' online "studios". These pages consist of images of members' artwork or comments about others' art, making it relevant to artists and critics alike.
The most engaging section contains members' reviews of contemporary art. For example, Twink describes Anthony Gormley's huge sculpture The Angel of the North as an "icon for manic-depression" - its height representing the highs, and its shadow the lows. Such perspectives offer fresh viewpoints on art, and provide insight into others' experience of mental illness.

Well worth visiting for those interested in mental health or the arts. And with studio spaces regularly updated by members, deserves returning to from time to time.

Mark Drinkwater is a community worker in Southwark, south London.

www.intellectualdisability.info

Star Rating: 4/5

This easy to navigate site is a "web-based learning resource for medical and health care students and practitioners". And it brings together such a wealth of articles about the health needs of people with learning difficulties that it is also a useful resource for social care students and professionals, writes Sarah Baalham.

The site has information on such diverse subjects as recognising psychosis in non-verbal patients; communication using methods like "books beyond words"; and consent to medical treatment. It is also refreshing to see information on physical and mental health issues for people with learning difficulties.
There are also some excellent pieces written by people with learning difficulties and their families. In particular, a moving piece written by the teenage daughter of a woman with learning difficulties should be required reading for everyone in social care.

Sarah Baalham is customer care manager, Suffolk social care services.