Making a mark on history with the Past in Mind
| Date | 25 November 2013 |
| Pages | 195-201 |
| Published date | 25 November 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-08-2013-0031 |
| Author | Jenny Isabel McMillan |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Making a mark on history with the
Past in Mind
Jenny Isabel McMillan
Jenny Isabel McMillan is
a Consultant, based at
Erigal Training, Larne,
Ireland and UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to give an account of the Past in Mind project, an innovative project
run by Herefordshire Mind and funded by the Heritage Lottery which explored the relationship between
the disciplines of archaeology and mental health recovery. It aimed to use that unexpected connection to
offer new perspectives on the interpretation of the past, to combat stigma associated with mental illness,
and to support participants’ personal journeys to better mental health.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an account of the development and operation of the
project given by the project manager, with other contributions from project participants.
Findings – The account of the project revealed that there was significant synergy between the processes of
archaeology and the mental health recovery.The linkage between archaeology and mental health does had
genuine value both for novel exploration of the past, and the exploration of personal understanding linked to
mental health recovery.
Originality/value – The paper is the first account of a partnership project between an archaeology service
and mental health recovery project. There is evident potential to learn from the Past in Mind project, and to
develop other history/archaeology/mental health recovery collaborative projects of this kind.
Keywords Archaeology,History, Mental health recovery, Stigma, Communityinvolvement, Social inclusion
Paper type Case study
A project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund has been running in Herefordshire for the past
year, producing positive outcomes for all those concerned. “Past in Mind” is a community
heritage initiative that has seen nearly 50 volunteers complete an investigation of a medieval site
in the rural heartland of the county from both an archaeological and historical perspective.
The project concept emerged as a result of a fateful meeting between two passengers on board
Arriva Trains Wales, one of them beingme. I met fellow commuter IanBapty, Senior Archaeologist
with Herefordshire Archaeology in a crowded carriage in 2009. At the time I worked as a Senior
Manager with Herefordshire Mind and while discussing the many contrasts in our respective
professions we were surprised to also find a commonality, the meeting point being around the
human experience. Through further“on board” explorationthere emerged the basis of the Past in
Mind Project.These “journeys of discovery”gave birth to an idea that therewas a natural synergy
or correlation between the painstaking discipline of archaeology that uncovers evidence of the
past and mental health recovery that relies upon the careful handling, analysis and ordering of
one’s past in order to live well in the present.
Archaeology and recovery
Archaeological investigation of the past fascinates many people (referencethe popularity of television
programmes such as “Time Team”). We envisaged that common interest would create a strong
“hook” for the project, encouraging potential engagement by Mind service users and members of
the wider community alike. A second premise of the project therefore was that cross-community
Ian Bapty, Industrial Heritage
Support Officer, Ironbridge
Museums was the Senior
Archaeologist on the Past and Mind
project and co-author of the original
brief for the Heritage Lottery Fund.
His professional experience and
humour were fundamental to the
success of the project.
Dr Kate Lack, Professional
Historian contributed her extensive
knowledge, enthusiasm, and sharp
wit to this project. Claire Rush,
volunteer established the Blog from
the Bog. Her ability to reach people
through her strong narratives
proved to be inspirational.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-08-2013-0031 VOL. 17 NO. 4 2013, pp. 195-201, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAGE 195
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