Madness in the arts and the art of madness: the Transatlantic Research Network on Mental Health and the Arts (TRAMHA)

TRAMHA is an international network devised to foster and develop interdisciplinary dialogues, research and exchange on creativity and mental health. One of our main aims is to broaden our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between individuals and their environments in the assessment of the factors affecting people’s mental health in specific contexts. General emotional numbness is a notable social symptom of mental ill health, and madness can be seen as an effect or a reflection of socio-economic, cultural and political circumstances. We believe that if severe means are to be employed in order to deal with severe mental health problems, the implementation of artistic activities in strange contexts might complement (and perhaps even replace) the use of extreme medication and extreme therapy. Similarly, it is expected that the deployment of artistic work by “lunatics” in public spaces could contribute to diminish the emotional numbness of society.