Creative Personalities 2009 is a day of film, art, debates, interactive workshops, and theatre performances on Friday 30 January 2009. Hosted by Yorkshire-based mental health charity Community Links, the festival - at The Carriageworks, Millennium Square - has been organised in association with user-led group Personality Plus, Tate Modern, and the venue Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
Ahead of the one-day festival, a free preview exhibition of highlights from local artists has gone on show at the venue. The work is by artists from across Yorkshire and the Humber, many of who have personality disorders or are closely involved with people who have the diagnosis Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
The diagnosis describes personality traits and behaviours that others may find unusual, like the inability to form social relationships or compulsive behaviour. It is often a result of abuse, neglect or a traumatic experience. Between 10 and 13% of the UK population are thought to be affected by personality disorder Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
The exhibition includes a number of pieces by 45-year-old Julie Bagwash, from York, who has been diagnosed with personality disorder and multiple personalities Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
Five years ago while living in Spain with her family, Julie was sectioned and was deeply traumatised by the experience of being sedated and restrained against her will Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
Julie was deeply traumatised by her experience in Spain and uses her art as a way of dealing with her feelings and as a route to recovery. She uses film and painting to deconstruct her experiences in order to break down the taboos around personality disorder Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
Julie has just finished her second year of a BA in fine art at York University Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
John Anderson, director of development and planning at Community Links, says: "Many people find that art is a really useful way of getting to grips with difficult feelings and we hope these events will help break down the stigma people diagnosed with PD often face." Photograph: Matt Tullett Photographydept 2009/PR
