School's art project helps pupils with anxiety

A school in the Black Country hopes to expand an art project to help students cope with anxiety.

West Bromwich Collegiate Academy worked with a small group of young people to create art that helped them express their emotions in a positive way.

It was the idea of special educational needs support worker Ravi Rattan, who makes art and films to deal with his own anxiety.

"As a man, talking about my feelings and anxieties is not something I've been accustomed to", he said, but art had allowed him to "work through it and gain some closure".

Student Phoebe, 13, said anxiety sometimes made her feel sick and stressed, and the art project had "made me feel a lot better, like I've expressed a bit more."

She said her artwork was "about the fear of losing people, and the anxiety of school, struggling in lessons. Sometimes it's hard to come in to school, and I struggle with work."

Kian, 16, used different colours and effects to show that "on the outside, you could be feeling nice and bright, but on the inside you could feel dark."

He said the project "helped me to express feelings and not to be worried or afraid to show how you feel."

Mr Rattan said the students had "brought meaning to what they're going through."

He added: "Anxiety is a constant thing, and to have an awareness of what it is, why it's there, and how to deal with it, has to be celebrated."

Both students said they wanted to continue to make art.

Kian said he would like to become a tattoo artist.

The finished artworks were displayed at West Bromwich Manor House Museum. Mr Rattan said: "I'm super proud of these guys."

"I told them I only want two things from them, commitment and honesty.

"They've delivered every single time, and it takes courage to do that."

Two thirds of young people surveyed for Children's Mental Health Week in 2023 reported feeling anxious or stressed because of school.

West Bromwich Collegiate Academy Principal George Faux said he hoped to expand the art project to help more young people.

"We've got children here from difficult backgrounds who are dealing with bereavement, anxiety and trauma, so to have something where they can come and be in a calm environment to express their feelings, is a wonderful cathartic experience," he said.