Page 23 - APAP - Inside Arts - Summer 2020

themselves, without having to use
words.
ARTS CAN CREATE A FEELING OF COMMUNITY
The arts also help at a community level. As we age, we might face isolation through a loss of social connections, such as friends, family and workplace—as well as other limitations such as decreasing physical health.
Through getting involved in arts programs, people in later life can rebuild their social connections and extend existing support in their communities. Getting in touch with others helps in alleviating loneliness and isolation. This is also true for care homes, where arts activities can help increase social interactions among residents and between residents and staff, which can improve mood and well-being.
“AT THE MENTAL HEALTH
IF THEY DON’T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS CREATIVE, WE WANT TO CREATE
AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES THEM TO HAVE FUN AND BE PLAYFUL. IT MAY BE THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN BRINGING THEIR MEMORIES TO LIFE.“
THE ARTS’ VALUABLE ROLE IN MENTAL HEALTH IS BEING RECOGNIZED
More and more people now appreciate that the arts and culture can play a valuable role in helping people who have mental health problems.
As we’ve noted: Engaging in
arts, social activities and interaction
within our communities can help
with major challenges such as aging
and loneliness. It can help to boost
confidence and make us feel more
engaged and resilient. Besides
these benefits, art engagement
also alleviates anxiety, depression
and stress.
THE ARTS AND HEALTH ECONOMICS—IT JUST MAKES SENSE
Since it can be used as a non- medical approach to preventing mental health problems it could help save money in the health service and social care.
Making art can enable people to take greater responsibility of their own health and well-being by helping maintain levels of independence and curiosity and improve the quality of life by bringing greater joy.
Find out more now and review the references for this post.
This excerpted post originally appeared on the Mental Health Foundation blog June 25, 2019, and is reprinted here with permission from that organization.
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STARTING A NEW PROJECT. CREATING COMMUNITIES IS AN 18-MONTH PROJECT FUNDED BY THE MERCERS TRUST.
WE ARE FACILITATING PEER GROUPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ANCHOR HANOVER HOUSING, USING CREATIVITY AND ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS TO IMPROVE WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS
FOR TENANTS IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF LATER LIFE HOUSING SCHEMES. IN TERMS OF CREATIVITY WE WILL USE PAINTINGS THAT PEOPLE
MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH TO BEGIN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EMOTION AND BUILD ON THESE. WE WILL HELP PARTICIPANTS TO USE DIFFERENT MATERIALS TO PRODUCE ARTWORK THAT
IS RELEVANT TO THEM. EVEN
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“ARTS AND CREATIVITY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAMS WE RUN AT THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION. ART CAN BE A DIFFERENT AND FUN WAY TO EXPRESS AND TALK ABOUT EMOTION.”
— Jolie Goodman, Programs Manager for Empowerment and Later Life
ARTS CAN MAKE A POWERFUL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH
Engaging in the arts seems to be growing in popularity as a way to improve your well-being. 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
SUMMER 2020 INSIDE ARTS 21