MIND the Community

Youth Engagement in the Transformation of a Former Psychiatric Hospital into a Museum about Mental Health

Abstract

The Scandinavian countries are known for their vibrant association culture, where volunteer-driven clubs and museum societies have historically fostered social capital and community well-being. However, younger generations increasingly prefer more flexible and informal forms of participation. This article examines how these shifts are negotiated in the transformation of a former psychiatric hospital in Middelfart, Denmark, into the MIND Museum. Drawing on formative qualitative research – including focus groups, go-along methods, co-design workshops, and participant observation with 19 local young people aged 16–24 – the study explores conditions for youth engagement with sensitive heritage. Findings highlight social motivation and peer presence as key drivers of participation, while contemporary, science-based approaches to mental health proved more engaging than traditional historical narratives. Flexible spaces, opportunities for co-ownership, and creative, hands-on practices supported sustained involvement. The article argues that heritage sites associated with stigma can be reimagined as participatory, community-building, and potentially health-promoting spaces when traditional association values are interpreted through youth-centered, formative research.