The private area for patients who need assessing by specialist mental health services was the result of joint working between Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

But staff were aware that the room was looking bare and clinical and called on the support of the Friends of Yeovil Hospital to brighten it up.

Two paintings were commissioned from local artist, Diane Bardsley and they have given a more relaxed feel to the room.

Diane was particularly close to the project as she has experienced mental health distress for many years and, despite having been hospitalised for long periods of time, her recovery journey has been an inspiration to many others across the country.

Diane said: “I felt it was important for the paintings to reflect both hope and encouragement for people whom might be feeling very distressed and in turmoil. ‘Facing a crossing’ suggests that people can have choices in the life journey they are on.

                                                    

“The butterflies are trying to encourage some positive steps forward. ‘Turn towards the light’ is a painting where the fairy has lost her way and turned her back towards the future.

                                            

“The butterflies represent hope and encouragement for her to turn around and be drawn back towards the light and to start to gain a renewed sense of hope and purpose.”

Diane set up a self-support group and became the first declared person using mental health services in the South West to sit on an NHS Trust Board as a Non-Executive Director in 1999 and worked for South Somerset Mind.

She was chair of an arts and mental health community interest company ‘Personality Plus’ until recently and has given many speeches nationally around mental health issues.

Diane is now a development consultant for the South West Development Centre.