Case Study: How You Dey Exploring Identity and Expression Through Art
Authors(s), Creator(s) and Contributors: Fadhili Maghiya
Publication Date: 05/11/2025
Categories: Case Studies
Partner(s): 1. The Artists: Abike Ogunlokun, Nelly Ating and Paskaline Jebet Maiyo 2. Health and Social Care Partner – The Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team, CAVUHB. (part of Cardiff & Vale Health Charity) 3. Wenpower
Funder(s): Arts Council Wales
Introduction
From onset, How You Dey? was aimed to be a safe and peer-led space for Black people to find community and creatively explore their mental health journeys. In Black communities, stigma exists around mental health issues. At the same time, young Black people in Wales experience many and complex challenges to their mental health. These include: • Racism, discrimination, bias and less opportunities than their white peers • Young people born in Wales grow up experiencing racism, minoritisation and may feel disconnected from both their Black roots and Welsh identities. Creative outputs and themes emerging from the workshops included a publication of the project and a showcase event supported by CVHB and curated by Abike, Nelly and Paskaline. It brought mental health conversations to the wider community in a culturally appropriate manner, nurture better intergenerational understanding and help to destigmatize mental health.
The Challenge
Black people experience complex challenges to their mental health, from racism, to culture clashes, being expected to fit in with dominant cultural norms or experiencing disconnect from the traditional values of their community to name but a few. See - https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DC15-Race-Equality-FoundationRacial-disparities-in-mental-health-Literature-and-evidence-review.pdf. Many mental health provisions do not offer tailored support for Black people, and most can struggle to share experiences when speaking with support workers who do not share their lived experience. Abike Ogunlokun, a young creative and member of SSAP youth took the lead on delivering activities and holding space along with Paskaline and Nelly
The Approach
Below were the target groups for the project Group 1: Those young Black people who have lived in Wales for most of their lives Group 2: Black people whose journeys have recently taken them to Wales to seek education, opportunities or shelter Outputs – We delivered 15 creative sessions and 5 mental health sessions to our community. The creative sessions were lead by our resident artists (Abike, Nelly and Paskaline) whist the mental health sessions were led by Star Moyo. The sessions were delivered after some of the creative sessions. We hosted an exhbition at Ffotogallery and developed a magazine for the project. See https://youtu.be/wcSRP0doXk8 Engagement – 3 artists, 1 mental health nurse and 50 participants took part. Timescale - The sessions too place in Cardiff and varied from 2hrs to 3 hrs. Paskaline's body art sessions took longer as it was not only a group exercise but painting takes time. Photography sessions with Nelly also took time as some were done as nature, walk and photo. The sessions took place between May 2024 and July 202
The Impact
The impact of this project was primarily gathered via participant feedback during sessions the project brought members of the community together, some of which had expressed that they had difficulties making friends or finding community in Cardiff, one was an immigrant who desired to strengthen her English language skills and was glad for the opportunity to connect and talk with others .For many of the participants, a safe space could also be a creative atmosphere. This project has transformed their understanding of wellbeing practices; it has given many a first start into a new professional pathway and tangible confidence and skills. Lastly, the unintended outcome was the ability for this project to bring the community together; as observed at the exhibition, families trooped out to support their loved ones whose work hung in a gallery for the first time. The impact was also around the development of creative skills, practically in regards to art as a tool for wellbeing. Therapist Star facilitated open conversations about mental health and well being, as well as providing some valuable wellbeing tools for participants. Ffotogallery have offered training support to 2 photographers and our magazine can be accessed here - https://www.cheb-arts.com/magazines
Lessons Learned
Paskaline - I learnt more about marketing as we rolled the project out, and upon reflection, I would have promoted the workshops from earlier in the timeline to ensure maximum reach. Nelly - While participants used phones to create projects, it would have been beneficial to spend two sessions exploring the camera, editing techniques, image storage etc As an organisation, we learnt a lot about using the arts for health and wellbeing, what people need and how we can connect to service providers. We learnt that we should have embedded expert support and or referral pathways on all sessions.
The Legacy
The project has allowed us to develop new tools in addressing health and wellbeing within our community. The artists have gained a lot in delivering community arts sessions and engaging with participants. Many participants mentioned that the project allowed the to meet new people and gaining skills. 2 have gained further support from Ffotogallery. The magazine will help document the project and physical copies of it have been shared publicly for individuals to access.
Website and Social Media Links
https://www.cheb-arts.com/magazines https://www.instagram.com/p/DMPeTTupPCN/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcSRP0doXk8&feature=youtu.be https://www.flickr.com/photos/sub-sahara_advisory_panel/sets/72177720321452836/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/sub-sahara_advisory_panel/albums/72177720320269190/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/sub-sahara_advisory_panel/sets/72177720318807576/
Contact Details
info@ssap.org.uk
Tags: Africa; health; wellbeing; black
