University News Last updated 29 April 2014
A new creative writing course aimed at medical professionals and people with long-term health conditions, has been launched by Birmingham City University.
Writing for Health, an online, distance-learning creative writing course taken over six to eight months, allows both healthcare workers and patients to develop their own writing skills whilst exploring its potential for health and wellbeing.
“For a long time I’ve been interested in how the arts and writing can be used to process, reflect upon and creatively engage with personal events,” says course tutor Jackie Gay, who hopes to enter the Paralympics in 2016.
“I have a very clear personal experience of this. My writing career only came into focus following the loss of my leg in a car accident; however many people instinctively turn to the arts, writing, poetry and literature when they are dealing with their own emotional and physical challenges, or those of people close to them.”
A published author of two novels and experienced literary editor, Jackie teaches the Writing for Health course entirely online, allowing students to study flexibly, and in their own time.
“The course enables people to engage with their own personal situations in a creative, structured, supported way.
“It is also of great benefit to those working in the medical profession or caring for those with long-term conditions, as it provides new tools to manage and support people, whilst championing personal responsibility for health and wellbeing.”
The Writing for Health course costs £500 and can be started at any time of the year. For more information, visit Writing for Health.