What kind of children do the Health Clowns most often encounter here?
Among patients in child psychiatric wards in the Czech Republic, so-called "emotionally unstable teenagers" predominate. These are children who, as a result of various influences, have difficulty getting through the adolescent crisis, i.e. the natural stage of their adolescence. Failure to cope with this can result in problems that children deal with in different ways – increased aggression, eating disorders, self-harm, substance abuse, etc.
Children in psychiatric wards often feel that they do not deserve normal and kind treatment. The main difference between children hospitalised with physical and mental health problems is that mentally ill children are ashamed of their illness and perceive their stay in a psychiatric ward as a disgrace or stigmatisation.
How do the Health Clowns help them?
- Health clowns visit psychiatric wards in large hospitals throughout the Czech Republic. Clown shows in child psychiatry are different from those in traditional paediatrics. Patients are often in a phase of denial about their illness and do not perceive their hospitalisation as beneficial. They may also perceive the healthcare professionals who care for them in a similarly negative light. That is why Health Clowns do not wear white coats and adapt their costumes to what they liked to wear when they were teenagers. They come in pairs, for example as cousins or siblings, and act out various games and situations together.
- Children are often distrustful and fearful at first. The clowns must dispel these fears and reassure the children that they have nothing to be ashamed of, that their stay in hospital is perfectly fine. They ask the children for permission to be with them and fully respect their decision.
- The clowns bring their joyful energy to the psychiatric ward. The aim is to show that life is beautiful and that even the smallest things can bring joy. That the two clowns can have fun together and enjoy themselves. If they succeed, the children will soon be unable to resist and will join in their games. The result of the clowning around in the children's psychiatric ward is not bursts of laughter, but sincere joy.
What else do we bring to children?
We have also developed the unique Circus Paciento. It is a weekly programme for long-term hospitalised patients and is particularly important in psychiatric hospitals. Every day, medical clowns teach a group of children entertaining skills to spark their interest. Throughout, they also ensure that the children have friendly relationships with each other, encouraging and cheering each other on. In short, they work together as a team. In addition
to discovering new things, the children work with the clowns to prepare for a final performance in front of a large audience. The children get involved in the preparations, coming up with various acts, magic tricks and choreography themselves. In addition to spending their time meaningfully, they experience success and applause during the performance, which is extremely important to them. And what else? Parents see their children in a different light and are proud of them. The same goes for the medical staff. And the children make new friends.
What facilities do we regularly visit:
- Fakultní nemocnice v Motole
- Fakultní Thomayerova nemocnice
- Dětská psychiatrická nemocnice Opařany
- Dětská psychiatrická nemocnice Louny
- Krajská nemocnice Liberec
- Fakultní nemocnice Plzeň
- Fakultní nemocnice Brno