Introduction: Creativity, Wellbeing and Mental Health

Abstract

This opening chapter provides an introduction, an overview and a rationale for the book. It suggests that, while both creativity and wellbeing have become arguably mere buzz-words, in reality they are both complex and useful, interconnected concepts which do have a relevance to contemporary mental health care. Reference is made to Elgar’s association with Worcester asylum as an early example of the connection between creative arts and mental health care. Some autobiographical elements are introduced and creative nonfiction techniques are used to explain the motivations behind writing the book and to illustrate the use of creativity as a foretaste of the book’s themes. The chapter touches on the fashion for creativity and on mental health practice as a creative activity. An outline describes each chapter’s content.