Lights, camera … puppets!
Highlighting the evolution of mental health care, consumers at Gold Coast University Hospital’s Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (SMHRU) have brought their very own puppets to life as part of an innovative art therapy program designed to support emotional expression and storytelling.
Using a range of craft materials, participants constructed small puppets that represented themselves or reflected personal themes. Each puppet was given a name and personality, with consumers using a simples stop-motion app and their own voices to create a short film starring their creation.
The result? A series of earnest, honest and heart-warming tales that reflect difficult themes in consumers’ own stories in a gentle, manageable way.
SMHRU Art Therapist Alana Sawrey said the project fostered a supportive environment that encouraged consumers to be curious about each other’s creations, recognise shared experiences and celebrate each other’s strengths.
“Research has shown that artmaking can enhance emotional regulation, insight and self-development and that was evident by our consumers feeling more confident to communicate their personal stories through creative means,” she said.
“Themes in the puppet stories included substance use, exploring identity and processing challenging emotions but by externalising them within the story of a little puppet, they were more manageable for participants to convey.”
In a further boost for consumers, the films were showcased at a special event attended by staff and participants, who were presented with certificates in recognition of their efforts.
SMHRU A/Nurse Unit Manager Mifin Mathew said the puppet show was an outstanding and uplifting experience.
“Engagement was consistently positive, with many consumers smiling and expressing genuine enjoyment throughout the event,” he said.
“As a staff member, it was wonderful to witness how the creative and therapeutic approach fostered connection, emotional expression and a sense of community within the group.”
A sequel is also on the way, with an Easter puppet show in the works.
The first of its kind for the public sector on the Gold Coast, the $122.7 million SMHRU opened at GCUH in early 2025 to provide a safe, secure and structured inpatient environment for the long-term recovery of people aged over 18 years old with severe and complex mental health conditions.
