Tackling loneliness through art, science, and shared lived experiences

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025, ‘Zine-making workshop: Stories of loneliness and substance use’ was held at Peckham Levels on 4 November 2025.

The well attended workshop was a collaboration between the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the McPin Foundation, supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Inspired by new research from the NIHR Maudsley BRC exploring the relationship between loneliness and health among people with substance use disorders, this workshop sought to share these findings in an accessible and creative way. Bringing together science, art and lived experience, this workshop created a space for connection, creativity and conversation.

Participants engaged with:

• Artwork by artist researcher Sarah Lloyd (formerly Carpenter), created in collaboration with the Clinical Records Interactive Search (CRIS) team
• Personal stories and reflections from peer mentors Aurora, Curie, Robert, and Chris, drawing on their lived experience expertise
• A hands-on zine making art session led by ArtizineUK

This workshop offered an inclusive, supportive environment that encouraged open discussion and collective creativity, supporting participants in creating a personal zine to take home, as well as a collective zine that brought together all shared experiences.

It was organised by the IoPPN’s Jonathan Crabtree and Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa, and co-facilitated by a team of peer mentors with expert lived experience and Ioana Simion from Artizineuk.

Art and lived experience

The afternoon began with an art exhibition showcasing the work of Sarah Lloyd, entitled ‘Art and Value’, which offers a powerful example of lived experience and recovery, moving attendees with the way Sarah translated her personal journey into visual art.

Sarah reflected on her experience: “My hope initially, when I became an artist, was to communicate my own experiences and help to destigmatise mental illness. Since then, I have been encouraged to focus on making academic research more widely accessible.” 

Research, reflection and connection 

Following the art exhibition, Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa, Champion for Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the NIHR Maudsley BRC, opened the main event, welcoming attendees,  and introducing all contributors. 

Jonathan Crabtree presented findings from the research, highlighting the association between loneliness, health and substance use. This talk encouraged discussion, inviting attendees to ask questions and share ideas on how to address loneliness through community and healthcare interventions. he said: “Our research highlighted the impact loneliness can have on health for those who use substances. This workshop allowed these findings to come alive, encouraging people with lived experience to engage, reflect, and shape the future of research in meaningful ways.” 

Peer mentors Aurora, Curie, Robert, and Chris, recruited via the McPin Foundation, shared personal stories about loneliness, connection and recovery. Their open and courageous reflections resonated with the audience, setting a meaningful tone for the creative workshop that followed.

Aurora, peer mentor, said:

“It was a really inspiring event that brought together a range of voices and experiences. I found the workshop both meaningful and energising- a great opportunity to connect, share, and reflect on how peer mentorship can make a real difference.” 

Chris, peer mentor, said: 

"I single out my involvement as a Peer mentor in this zine making workshop as a personal highlight. A time invested in learning new things, coming across brilliant minds, finding plenty of inspiring moments, stretching my comfort zones to the benefit of self-awareness and personal growth, and eventually becoming a better version of myself - a confident Chris believing in myself and our collective ability to shape the world.” 

Creating together: the zine workshop

The event concluded with a zine-making session led by Ioana Simion, creator of Artizineuk. Ioana introduced participants to the history of zine-making, highlighting its roots in self-expression, activism and storytelling, and emphasising the power of creativity to connect people and share experiences.

Drawing on the insights and lived experiences shared throughout the day, participants created pages exploring themes of mental health, connection and recovery. Each participant was supported to create two zines: one to take home as a reminder of their journey, and a collective zine that brought together everyone’s stories, ideas and artwork.

Ioana said: "I really enjoyed being part of the event and facilitating the zine workshop. I’m grateful for the honesty, warmth, and conversations around loneliness and connection that filled the room. Each page of the zine we made together holds a fragment of lived experience. At its core, zine-making is a community practice — a tender yet radical art form that nurtures meaningful learning, fosters connection, and documents lived experiences from the source."

Download and view the collaborative zine here

Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa, said: “This workshop showed the power of bringing together people with science, creativity and lived experience. When people share their stories and express themselves through art, we not only deepen understanding of loneliness, but also create real opportunities for connection. Thanks to all our attendees for their openness and creativity ” 

This workshop showed how creativity can transform experiences of loneliness into connection, and how sharing stories can foster resilience, understanding, and a sense of belonging for all.