ABSTRACT
The article presents the results of two online questionaire surveys, focussing on the use of metal detecting for archaeological items as a form of self-therapy. The surveys focused on two different cohorts; British armed forces veterans with (un)diagnosed mental health challenges and Danish detectorists with and without (un)diagnosed mental health challenges. We conclude that active metal detector users with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health problems perceive metal detecting as having a beneficial effect on their health and wellbeing. A majority of users also feel that the hobby mitigates diagnosis-specific symptoms of their psychological problems. Further, a large number of Danish detectorists with pre-existing mental health conditions perceive their hobby as a relief from the general stress caused by the Covid-19 situation in 2020. Our results to date provide some insight as to whether metal detecting can be used as an activity to support mental health and impact as a “self-therapy”. Moving forward, we are trying to establish the necessary data for answering this question through the ‘‘Vetektor-Buddy-program” – a scheme introducing Danish armed forces veterans to the metal detector hobby.
