Art and Mental Health Recovery: Evaluating the Impact of a Community-Based Participatory Arts Program Through Artist Voices

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the impact of participation in a 6-month community-based participatory arts program on mental health recovery. Using a case study methodology, a total of nine recent graduates from one of five separate groups held during the study period (2012-2015) were interviewed. All but one of the nine participants reported positive personal, emotional, physical and/or mental health changes as a result of her or his participation in the program. Voices of all participants are explored. Analysis of the interviews revealed four key themes: safe space to create, change in identity, biggest impact, and program-related challenges. This study supports community-based arts programming as a positive experience for people living with mental illness. Employing staff and volunteers with lived experience of mental health problems enhanced the overall participant experience.

Participatory Art Activities Increase Salivary Oxytocin Secretion of ASD Children

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) recently summarized how art-based interventions can help improve health and well-being, as well as contribute to the prevention of, and recovery from mental and physical illness [ 24 ]. Participatory art, in which participants engage in creative activities during social interaction, is known for its beneficial effects on physical health and emotional well-being [ 25 , 26 ]. In fact, the experience of participating in the creative process itself improves mental health conditions, thereby building resilience, boosting social and communicative skills, and improving self-confidence [ 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Participatory art, in which participants engage in creative activities during social interaction, is known for its beneficial effects on physical health and emotional well-being [ 25 , 26 ]. In fact, the experience of participating in the creative process itself improves mental health conditions, thereby building resilience, boosting social and communicative skills, and improving self-confidence [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. More broadly, such activities are included in social prescribing, an emerging intervention modality that has garnered interest and attention in the academic and clinical communities [ 29 ].…”

Assessing the Social Impact of Mental Health Service Accessibility by a Nonprofit Social Enterprise: A Mixed--methods Case Study

“…Services addressing the mental health needs of vulnerable social groups in Canada are diverse. Many community-based nonprofit organizations have sought to alleviate issues pertaining to mental health by responding with wellness programs, such as counselling services (Jordans et al, 2019;Lamsal, Stalker, Cait, Riemer, & Horton, 2018), peer and mutual-help groups (Sotskova, Woodin, & St. Cyr, 2016;Turpin & Shier, 2017), or arts-based programming (Bone, 2018;McKeown, Weir, Berridge, Ellis, & Kyrarsis, 2016). However, nonprofits continue to grapple with meeting the demand for accessible services (Ganann et al, 2019;Knight & Winterbotham, 2019), as service users are commonly faced with large wait-lists (Kowalewski, McLennan, & McGrath, 2011;Lamsal et al, 2018) or poorly suited programs that are not capable of providing personalized support (Ibaraki & Hall, 2014;Presley & Day, 2019).…”

Exploring Community Art and Its Role in Promoting Health, Social Cohesion, and Community Resilience in the Aftermath of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

“…A growing body of evidence demonstrates that arts-based interventions can have profound positive impacts on health outcomes, such as stress levels, emotions, social cohesion, and health behaviors (Bone, 2018; Clift, 2012; Fancourt, 2017; Fancourt et al, 2019; MaCleod et al, 2016; Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). Specific arts-based approaches, from writing, to painting and drawing, and dance and music, have demonstrated significant positive health effects (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010).…”