Magic lessons aid NHS mental health patients

MENTAL health patients are being taught magic tricks after nurses said the exercise can boost self-esteem.

The NHS is advertising for “volunteer magicians” to expand the Magic Therapy Project scheme across wards in the North East.

Nurses said patients’ lives have been transformed after they were shown how to amaze loved ones with little more than a deck of cards and a wand.

Success stories include a man who had not spoken for four years and is now an accomplished conjurer who impresses an audience with his patter.

The scheme was started by Eamonn Mcclurey, community health and learning disability nurse with Middlesbrough-based Tees, Esk and Wear Valley’s trust.

Mr Mcclurey, 45, said: “I was always interested in magic as a child. I was shy and quiet and it gave me confidence because it is a unique talent.

“I was working in holiday camps doing magic before going into nursing. I never thought anything about it until I saw a report about

‘The use of simple magic tricks can be beneficial in many ways’

how card tricks could help with physio. So I thought: ‘why not try it with people with mental health problems’. I saw how doing simple tricks can improve self-confidence and esteem if they do them for nurses and other patients. I did a magic workshop at a conference and people loved it.”

The trust is now advertising for volunteer magicians to entertain patients, teaching simple tricks with coins, silks and cards.

Mr Mcclurey is working with Neil Armstrong, a conjurer from the Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians.

Mr Armstrong said: “We have seen some amazing results. A man with autism has really excelled at card tricks.

“He could not say his own name 10 months ago. He now does card tricks for doctors.

“It is about teaching them to do something others can’t which boosts the self-esteem of people who think they are not worth anything. It is amazing to see.

“We think this is something that can really work and it does not cost the NHS anything.”

A trust spokesman said: “The use of simple magic tricks can be beneficial in many ways, including helping to improve motor skills and concentration.

“The biggest benefit we have seen through our group sessions is the improvement in people’s confidence and self-esteem.”