The “Stories of Mental Health” exhibition, held at The Retreat in York for World Mental Health Day 2025, celebrated the voices and creativity of those connected to mental health care in York across the centuries.
Drawing on unique materials from the Borthwick Institute for Archives, the project explored diaries, letters, poems, and photographs from people who lived in York’s mental health institutions during the 1800s. Highlights included Alfred Smith’s diary, Eliza ‘Minnie’ Harrison’s unsent letters, and poems by James Newby.
Community workshops brought together artists, art groups, and individuals from across York to creatively respond to these historical archives. The resulting artworks ranged from illustrated maps and cyanotype prints to collages, poems, and interactive installations. Each piece reflected on themes of identity, memory, and the importance of being heard.
Stories of Mental Health Exhibition Booklet. 
1. The Walk of Alfred – Fold out map, plus audio clip. 
Original sketches for The Walk of Alfred map. 
2. Hiya Bud! – Sketch, David Roberts. 
3. Took A Walk – Poem, printed and audio/visual clip. 
4. The Walk of Alfred #2 – Cyanotype print and pink stitch shape. 
Photo collage from ‘A Retired Habitation: A History of The Retreat, York (Mental Hospital) by Harold Capper Hunt, 1920’. 
Envelopes, and cyanotype print of woman. 
Envelope with ‘fragment’ written on it, on a window. 
10. The Hand You’re Dealt – Collage, cards on floor. 
10. The Hand You’re Dealt – Collage (detail) 
11. Come: And Another Thing – stream of thought, paint on paper 11 Come: And Another Thing – stream of thought, paint on paper (detail) 
10. The Hand You’re Dealt – Collage 
10. The Hand You’re Dealt – Collage 
11 Come: And Another Thing – stream of thought, paint on paper (detail). 
Alfred Smiths diary. 
Minnie Harrison’s letters and photos. 
7. Nobody Knows My Name #1 – Cyanotype prints (detail). 
8. Nobody Knows My Name #2 – Poem, Anonymous. 
7. Nobody Knows My Name #1 – Cyanotype prints (detail). 
5. Come To The Point – Mannequin, letterpress prints, community responses. 
7. Nobody Knows My Name #1 – Cyanotype prints (detail). 
7. Nobody Knows My Name #1 – Cyanotype prints (detail). 
Doodle of walking route. 
9. No One Knows My Name – Collage, Gemma Thompson. 
Envelope on window with ‘come to the point’ written on it. 
Envelopes and The Divided Self book. 
Collage. 
6 Once On A Time – Paper Kite, inspired by James Newby’s poems. 
Envelopes with ‘please come as ever’ written on it. . 
11. Come: And Another Thing – stream of thought, paint on paper 11 Come: And Another Thing – stream of thought, paint on paper. 
Doodle, mannequinn, poem and cyanotype prints. 
7. Nobody Knows My Name #1 – Cyanotype prints.
This art and archive exhibition is part of the Stories of Mental Health from York: Past, Present, and Future project, funded by Mentally Fit York at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
