Down to the Abbey

 

Illustration by Nishat Nabilah

By Katelyn Chin (Malaysia) 

“Down to the Abbey,” what I mean is Downton Abbey—a popular British fiction historical drama series that ran from 2010 till 2015. I am outdated for TV shows now and then, unless I see it is interesting and sparks my curiosity; then I will take a keen interest into wanting the story more. 

I wanted to watch Downton Abbey for a long time. I did not watch it when the first series was aired because some contents and scenes were considered violent for a 13-year-old. I was starting my secondary school life and my studies were put primarily. Luckily, I had some other TV shows that most teenagers would watch such as Nickelodeon’s iCarly, True Jackon VP, Big Time Rush, Victorious. 

Until in 2015, I was on a trip to Australia for my regular physiotherapy treatment check-up, I read the news that Downton Abbey is running for its sixth and final season. I saw news of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge came to visit to the set of the show. It was clearly a royalty favourite. When I got back home to Malaysia, the show was no longer aired, and I had to wait for quite some time. 

When Netflix was available in the household, I was hoping there would be Downton Abbey for me to watch. Instead, I went straight for The Crown—another British history drama which based on true stories of the reign of the current monarch—HM The Queen. After watching a few drama series and movies on Netflix, it is time to go down to the Abbey for real this time. I have to say I love the series and got to know the life of an aristocrat in British society back then. 

I can resonate with Lady Mary Crawley (played by Michelle Dockery), who is the eldest among the Crawley siblings. In the first season of the series, she admitted to her father, The Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) that she is stubborn, in a way, I can relate to her because I am stubborn in real life and doing the best that I can do my way. 

Currently, I am on the fifth season of Downton Abbey on Netflix. I cannot wait for more adventures of the Crawley family.

Healing Through Art

 

Illustration by Nishat Nabilah

By Cora-laine Moynihan (United Kingdom)

Brushing bristles across the tightly woven threads of cotton that makes the canvas, emotions are brought to life in the form of intricate swirls, carefully placed dots, and softly mixed colours. 

Kneading clay between fingers, stress is freed—disappearing with each press down of a palm.

Guiding the pencil, an image is brought to life, a memory long needed to be processed. 

Art is not just for creativity, or an escape from the everyday. Art is for wellbeing. For discovering your inner self that was once lost. Art is method of healing. Of processing trauma, pain, and illness. And it is a way to find our voice.

Its power over one’s mental health and recovery is immense, and that is why it has been harnessed in therapy to aid people when in mental strife. Many studies suggest that art therapy can be very valuable in treating issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even some phobias. It helps you process complex emotions without words or sharing plainly with others, and find relief. 

That is why art is such an integral part of the work Safeline and I do. Safeline is a UK-based charity that specialises in supporting survivors of abuse and young people suffering from poor mental health. As part of their clinical services, they offer drama and art therapies as a type of counselling you can receive—providing you with a safe, private space to express every and any emotion you are feeling as well as to address any traumas or challenges you have faced. For young people, art is used as an educational aid just as much as a therapeutic one. As part of Safeline’s education and prevention projects, young people are encouraged to engage in arts and crafts, drama, music, and sport to explore sensitive, safe-guarding subjects (for example: online-grooming, drugs and alcohol, and sexual harassment).

As a Safeline Ambassador, and previously a young person that used the service, art is integral to my own social action work and mental health. From creating an art calendar to sharing poetry, I have used art to raise awareness of sexual abuse and mental illness in order to create a safer community for all to live it. And I would not have done this had I never experienced the power art can have on one’s wellbeing. 

So, the next time you face turmoil, either internally or externally, try turning to art to free your mind. Express your emotions in paint, or clay, or writing. Whichever speaks to you most.