Seeking Truth: Labels. Identity. Repair.
Unveiling ceremony at Level 1 inpatient rehab service
The power of art to reflect and make sense of the stories of our life was celebrated at Asket Croft in April with the highly anticipated unveiling of artwork created by service users from level 1 rehab inpatient wards; Asket House and Asket Croft
Over five weeks in the autumn of 2026 service users took part in multi – art form workshops facilitated by Leeds based artist Sai Murray. The group explored identity, discrimination, heritage, culture, healing, and repair. Poetry, drawings, and collage was used to create the themes. From this multitude of original artworks, the group organised and collated the pieces into three large artworks to be printed and permanently displayed at the Asket Croft reception desk.
The three panels explore how society impacts mental health and address in turn:
- Labels, stigma, and negative experiences;
- The struggle for full identities to be seen and heard;
- The healing and repair longed for in the future.
A multi-voice group poem; “Growing Gifts” was also created in the workshops and can be listened to alongside the artworks via a QR code.
The project brought participants from two wards together to explore their experiences, providing social connection and an opportunity to tell their story through creativity. The group demonstrated how art can be a powerful medium to enhance reflection; tapping into the hopes and intentions people have for their lives.
Service users, staff and family members gathered to celebrate the creativity of the group with afternoon tea at Asket Croft.
The artwork was initiated by Dr Anjula Gupta, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, as part of an Improving Population Health Fellowship project run by the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The project explored social justice practice in mental health services and contributed to the anti – racist practice agenda at the Rehab and Recovery service. Funding was provided by the Arts and Minds Creative grant and the Rehab and Recovery service.
Photo’s from the Asket Croft unveiling event
Growing Gifts
By Nick, Sam, Tanveer, Vincent, Sharon.
lightning strikes black midnight
shadows fall on walls
but grass will still grow at dawn
shadows beyond grave stones
hit shades of light
that scatter thoughts
dark. evening.
loneliness. fear
a lie travels faster than the truth
hope.
truth travels at the speed of light
never block out the light
keep climbing to the mountain top
repair mental health
looking for change
and the answers will come
get my life back. on track.
a never-ending embellishment of memories
the fruition of your labour
looking at the world ahead
your life is still beginning
the right things happen at the right time
listen create and deliver
create a story of misstep guidelines
with the faces of loved ones
reflecting on each flower
they grow to gift a smile across your face.