What can family traditions teach us about mental health? How do the creative and cultural practices we learn within our families shape our mental health when family, home and community have been disrupted by forced displacement?
For the last two years, we've been working alongside groups of volunteers from refugee backgrounds to explore these questions. Through oral history, creativity and community gatherings, The Art of Family Life explores the experiences and memories that connect generations of refugee families who have settled in Glasgow. Through conversation and shared creative acts, the groups created space for new interpretations of what wellbeing and belonging can look and feel like.
Family away from family: finding community
Many of the participants involved in the project are separated from loved ones, carrying the pain of distance and loss as part of their everyday lives. Yet throughout the project, participants found support and connection through conversations and group gatherings, creating a sense of family that extended beyond biological relationships.
Over a series of weekly gatherings, the groups came together to share stories, recipes, memories and experiences. Through poetry, cookery workshops and creative activities, trust and bonds were formed, creating space for reflection, expression and mutual support.
One participant, Nina, captured the power of these connections in her poetry:
How is it possible that our hearts are so close to each other?
That the hand on my shoulder
Made me strong
That wee chat in the garden
Gave me hope
That text on WhatsApp
Took away my sorrows
Rethinking wellbeing and belonging
Cooking together became a particularly meaningful part of the project. Preparing food offered more than an opportunity to share meals. It opened up conversations about family, home and memory. Familiar ingredients and recipes sparked stories of loved ones and places left behind, while the act of chopping, stirring and cooking side by side created moments of comfort and connection.
"Often our most beloved or comforting dishes aren't just about the food itself, but about who or what the flavours remind us of, and the associations they carry throughout our lives."
As relationships in the group deepened, participants began to describe a broader understanding of family life. Family became less about blood ties alone and more about care, familiarity, support and shared experiences.
The project also revealed the different ways people understand and experience wellbeing. Through poetry, cooking and making activities, participants described creativity as a way of processing emotions, building resilience and finding calm during difficult times.
At the same time, conversations highlighted how common ideas about mental health and self-care do not always reflect everyone's experiences. For some women, wellbeing was not found in solitude, mindfulness exercises or taking time away from others. Instead, it was found in togetherness, activity and the energy of community life.
One poem reflected this perspective:
When I think of calm
The western ways come to mind
"Take a moment to yourself", they say
But I am not doing no meditation
It is always the chaos of running around
The laughing
That's where I find my calm
The collectivity of family away from family
These reflections challenge us to think more broadly about what supports good mental health. They remind us that wellbeing is deeply personal and shaped by culture, family histories, lived experience and community connections.
Creativity, connection and hope
At a time when many people are facing increasing social, economic and emotional pressures, opportunities to come together creatively can be a vital source of support.
The Art of Family Life demonstrates that creativity is not just about making things. It can help people reconnect with their histories, strengthen relationships, process difficult emotions and create a sense of belonging. It shows that family can be found in many places. Through shared stories, traditions and acts of care, communities can create new forms of connection and hope, even when home and loved ones are far away.
The Art of Family Life is presented in partnership with Listen Gallery and the Scottish Oral History Centre. Find out more as the project continues to explore the connections between culture, creativity, belonging and mental health: The Art of Family Life — Exhibition | Listen Gallery