It is without a doubt that the arts are incredible in having such a wide range of benefits, and improving your mental well-being is one of the advantages that just can’t be missed. I might be slightly biased, however, this is a topic that has been intensively researched and scientifically proven. With coping mechanisms such as arts therapy, I think it would be pretty challenging for anybody to disprove my argument.

Mental illness is a subject that gets discussed a lot in today’s society, as it should, because the statistics are extremely frightening:

• 1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by a mental health disorder in their lifetimes
• 450 million people currently suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and more
• BAME communities, refugees, LGBTQ members and those with physical and learning disabilities are the groups experiencing a higher prevalence of mental health problems
• 3/4’s of people in the UK have admitted to feeling so stressed in the past year that they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope
• Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds.

The facts and figures are horrendous to read, but we are finally fighting our way towards ending the stigma where as a society, we are encouraging everyone to be open about how they are feeling and to seek help if the going gets tough. As part of my contribution to ending the stigma around mental health, I am going to share with you some very valid reasons as to why you should engage more with art to keep your mind healthy!

Express the mess, sister

Have you ever felt this burning desire to communicate your amazing and valuable self with the world but have never known how? Of course you could shout it from a rooftop or write it down on paper, but that just isn’t as much fun as getting a whopping great big paintbrush and throwing paint across a canvas. Or dancing around a room and revealing your inner black swan, or sewing a colourful patchwork quilt that represents your colourful, eccentric personality. I could go on, but you get the point. Making art encourages us to reveal our individuality and inner creator while forcing us to discover things about ourselves we might have not known before. You don’t have to be good at the arts to delve into the realms of self-expression. It is about the process, not the outcome.

Dopamine KICK

It is without a doubt that the arts are a FABULOUS distraction. The amount of creative fuel derived from crying over meaningless boys is a force to be reckoned with. It has been said that the arts are great for alleviating stress from exterior issues and can act as a healthy escape. In fact, studies show that creating art stimulates the release of dopamine, which is the chemical that is released when we do something pleasurable – it is quite literally, the happy hormone. That means that not only are we enjoying ourselves, but we are also battling against mental health disorders like anxiety and depression at the same time. Winning!

Join the club!

Another benefit of engaging with the arts is the amazing friendships you make! The arts community are potentially the most welcoming, friendly and entertaining group of people you will come across. Arts activities that specifically incorporate social interaction, such as dance and theatre, are great for promoting camaraderie. You can meet people in classes, galleries, museums, concerts, studios, and more. You never know, the variety of people you will meet might bring out sides of you that you didn’t realise existed. I think it goes without saying that having great people around you does wonders for your mental well-being, and I couldn’t recommend the arts community enough!

Communicate without saying a word

The arts provide us opportunities to communicate visually when words just aren’t enough. You are given a voice to communicate your thoughts and feelings in a way that is so creative, there is no way people won’t be able to hear you. All of the arts forms, including drawing, dancing, textiles, acting, photography, sculpture, film, music and more, aid in excelling your communication skills. This is not only amazing to make improvements to your mental well-being, but also in your general life assets! So communicate visually and do it with pleasure.

Enabling you to be the best version of yourself  

I can vouch for this one. The feeling of accomplishment when creating a piece that you love is unmatched. Suddenly, I gain the confidence to feel like I can do anything that I want and that I am quite frankly, Leonardo da Vinci’s biggest modern threat. It really is one of the best feelings and it applies to so many areas in life. Everybody feels good when they achieve something amazing, right? It can be so valuable to improving your self-appreciation and confidence so its 100% worth a try.

Dare to be aware 

Self-awareness is a seriously attractive trait these days and oh, guess what? Engaging with the arts can help you do that too! The cognitive-reflective aspects of the arts make them especially effective as tools for mindfulness. They help you to become more aware and conscious of your thoughts and state of mind without judgement. So they’re just an all-around winner really!

Okay, so if you aren’t currently feeling the urge to go grab some paint and a canvas or jump on Just Dance on your Wii, then I have failed miserably.

All jokes aside, I hope that my small selection of reasons why the arts are great for your mental health has enlightened you on some of the benefits. Remember that engaging with art doesn’t have to mean creating; it can be going to an exhibition or a performance or reading and learning about it. The options are truly endless. Experiencing the arts in any way, shape or form will scientifically make you into a happier being!

I hope that you are taking care of yourself and engaging with some art, you won’t regret it! Sending my love from your dearest art junkie,

Bryony

Some useful mental health contacts and organisations: 

Mind – A mental healthy charity that aids in bettering people’s mental well-being

• Infoline: 0300 123 3393
• Text: 86463

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – Provides listening services, information and support for anyone who needs to talk, including a web chat.

• 0800 58 58 58

The Mix – Support and advice for under 25s, including a helpline, crisis messenger service and webchat.

• 0808 808 4994
• 85258 (crisis messenger service, text THEMIX)

Nightline Association – Lists contact information for helplines and listening services in universities and colleges across the UK.

Papyrus HOPELINEUK – Confidential support for under-35s at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them. Open daily from 9am–midnight.

• 0800 068 41 41
• 07786 209697 (text)
• pat@papyrus-uk.org

Stay Alive – An app with help and resources for people who feel suicidal or are supporting someone else.

Switchboard – Listening services, information and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

• 0300 330 0630

Resources used:

https://www.who.int/news/item/28-09-2001-the-world-health-report-2001-mental-disorders-affect-one-in-four-people

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics

https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/suicide-data