P195 Teen Connect: an online art therapy group enhancing peer support and psychosocial care for adolescents with rheumatological conditions

Abstract Background/Aims Adolescents with rheumatological conditions often face isolation, anxiety, and barriers to psychosocial support. To address these challenges, Teen Connect—an online art therapy group—was established in 2021 by a Teapot Trust art therapist and clinical nurse specialist at the Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle. The group aimed to provide a safe, creative space for peer connection, emotional expression, and self-regulation for those reluctant to attend in-person therapy. This retrospective service review evaluated attendance, engagement, benefits, and challenges. Methods Service data (2021-2024) were reviewed, including attendance, clinician reflections, and participant and parent/carer feedback. The group ran weekly online during term-time, facilitated by an art therapist with volunteer co-facilitators, and participants were signposted by a clinical nurse specialist. Participants were encouraged to meet the art therapist in clinic or the day unit beforehand to build trust. Sessions began with a creative prompt, followed by time to relax, chat, and create, with the option to share work at the end. Activities included journalling, collage, and mixed media, supporting self-expression, reflection, and regulation. Weekly check-ins between the art therapist and clinical nurse specialist maintained shared awareness of participant wellbeing and emerging needs. Results Over three years, 26 adolescents (all female, aged 12-17) engaged, each attending for six months or more. The group provided peer understanding, belonging, and a safe space to discuss the realities of living with rheumatological conditions. Journalling evolved into an ongoing wellbeing tool used independently between sessions. Attendance patterns were flexible, with some returning during transitions such as bereavement, surgery, or increased anxiety. The online format improved access across the North-East for young people unable to attend in person. Challenges included digital poverty and reliance on parental presence, which limited participation for some. Conclusion Teen Connect shows that online art therapy can deliver meaningful psychosocial support for adolescents with rheumatological conditions. It offers a safe space where peer support, shared experience, and discussion of adolescent concerns are central. Participants benefit from connection and understanding, reducing isolation and increasing confidence. Group insights also help rheumatology clinicians understand coping strategies and emerging needs, enhancing multidisciplinary care and promoting accessibility, wellbeing, and peer connectedness. Disclosure M.H. Keane: None. L. Craig: None. S. Jandial: None. A. Lloyd: None. P. Watts: None.