Get Creative To Improve Wellbeing

Research has shown that cultural activities can improve our mental health. Whether that is writing, drawing, painting, sculpting, playing music or visiting galleries and museums, the feeling of joy we experience can positively impact our wellbeing.

The Mental Health website tells us that engaging in the arts seems to be growing in popularity as a way to improve your wellbeing. Participating in the arts can enable people to deal with a wide range of mental ill-health conditions and psychological distress. The best part is that it helps people to improve their mental health through creativity. Making art is helping many people express themselves, without having to use words.
The best thing is that making art can enable people to take greater responsibility for their own health and wellbeing by helping maintain levels of independence and curiosity and improve the quality of life by bringing greater joy. (mentalhealth.org.uk)

Creativity can make us feel satisfied with life and can boost our self-esteem. Baking, gardening, sewing, woodwork and metalwork are all examples of creative pursuits that can brighten our days, lift our moods and make us feel accomplished. The Greatist website tells us there is no concrete definition of creativity, but most experts agree it has got something to do with the ability to come up with new ideas, new links between ideas, and novel solutions to problems (with or without destroying a pack of Crayolas). But here’s the kicker: Forget the image of the brooding artist alone in a basement studio. Research suggests creative people are actually happier than everyone else.
Not a singer, writer, or dancer? No problem. Experts say absolutely anyone can be creative, though different people may have different talents. “It really has to do with open-mindedness,” says Dr. Carrie Barron, co-author of “The Creativity Cure,” who says creativity applies to everything from making a meal to generating a business plan. But whether creativity means whipping up a spinach soufflé or tap-dancing for a Broadway audience, experts say there’s a strong connection between creative expression and overall wellbeing. (greatest.com)

Science and research have played a large part in understanding the links between the arts and creativity and how this impacts mental wellbeing and for this reason, art therapy is often used in clinical settings. According to Very Well Mind, the use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health is known as art therapy. Art therapy is a technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being.
Doctors noted that individuals living with mental illness often expressed themselves in drawings and other artworks, which led many to explore the use of art as a healing strategy. Since then, art has become an important part of the therapeutic field and is used in some assessment and treatment techniques. (verywellmind.com)

Doctors have long recognised the benefits of art therapy for their patients and clients. Art therapy in hospitals and clinical settings could be very helpful to aid treatment and therapy, and to enhance communications between patients and on-site medical staffs in a non-verbal way. Moreover, art therapy could be more effective when combined with other forms of therapy such as music, dance and other sensory stimuli. (frontiersin.org)

Art therapy can help to heal trauma especially the trauma experienced after natural disasters such as flood and bushfire. Rob Gordon, a clinical psychologist and consultant to the Australian Red Cross for disaster recovery, said art could help normalise abnormal situations. “When you're in a frightened state, the chemistry in the brain caused by adrenalin puts the accent on the right side of the brain where you think in pictures," Dr Gordon said. "When you have profound emotional experiences, words are not very adequate at conveying it and often people don't know how to explain it. "That's where music, drama, art or dance … can allow that emotional expression and that then can be something to be talked about. (ABC News online)

Do you feel joy when visiting an art gallery, library or listening to your favourite song? Being an observer or listener can have the same impact on wellbeing as being a creator. And of course, if you want to try your hand at a creative pursuit, there are plenty of YouTube videos to teach drawing, painting and even knitting and crochet.
A really good site to visit is the ABC’s Space 22. This series about art and wellbeing can be seen on ABC iview and there is an informative website too.
https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/space-22-improving-mental-health-through-creativity/101052564

“Variety of form and brilliancy of colour in the object presented to patients are an actual means of recovery.” ~ Florence Nightingale

Sources:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/how-arts-can-help-improve-your-mental-health
https://greatist.com/happiness/how-creativity-makes-us-happier#1
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-art-therapy-2795755
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.686005/full#:~:text=Art%20therapy%20in%20hospitals%20and%20clinical%20settings%20could,such%20as%20music%2C%20dance%20and%20other%20sensory%20stimuli
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-11/using-art-to-help-make-sense-of-natural-disasters-and-trauma/11933188