Every year, for the last 5 years, the 10th October has been a day which puts mental health and the issues surrounding it at the forefront of many conversations. The event is recognised internationally, and promoted by the World Health Organization.
This year, the focus is on young people and mental health in a changing world. Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age, but most cases are undetected and untreated. Many factors can have a potential impact on a young person’s mental health: a desire for independence, pressure to conform to society, exploration of sexual identity, and increased access to and use of technology.
Mental health awareness is something we are really keen to promote. Earlier this year, we wrote about the stress-relieving benefits of pottery. As well as being creative, pottery painting is hugely therapeutic, and a great chance to express yourself whilst unwinding. In a world that is constantly and rapidly changing, pottery is a constant. It has been around for thousands of years, and will continue to be around as a craft that people cannot help but love.
In an article about the rise of ceramics, Toby Brundin, director of Ceramic Art London was interviewed about pottery. “It’s so rudely analogue” he said, “that it’s an antidote to the screen-based way that most of us spend our working, and a big chunk of our non-working, lives.” He’s right! When people come and paint, they put their phone away for a couple of hours, and lose themselves in their designs. The fact that pottery painters have to wait to see the final product counteracts the culture of instant information that we are used to. And, even better, when customers get to take home their masterpieces, they are constantly reminded of their lovely, relaxing experience.
And if people come to throw a couple of pots, they can’t even touch their phone for fear of covering it in clay!
With this in mind, on Tuesday 9th October, we would like to offer a 50% discount on any pottery you choose to come and paint. Come on in, relax, unplug, and unwind! Bookings only and quote ‘Health Day’.
For more information on the matter of mental health, we really recommend taking a look at Time to Change, and Heads Together, two companies which are both working to change the way we think and act about mental health problems.
What was your favourite pottery painting experience with us? Leave a comment, or send us a picture - we’d love to see your works of art again!