Mental Health and Creativity

Creativity is part of building an identity. Express who you are without words.

No matter how skillful a person is, those who practice artistic activities at least once per day report greater levels of happiness than those who do not. A person does not have to be considered an artist or be amazing at the creative activity they do; they just have to do it. The connection between mental health and creativity has been described as, “an upward spiral towards well-being and creativity” (Newport Academy).

Music as medicine.

Other creative expressions that aid in better mental health include theatre and music. After four weeks of participating in theatre, individuals have reported improvements in mental well-being, cognitive operations (such as enhanced word memory), listening memory and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the widely held belief of music and improved mental health has been proven to be connected. Music can help soothe and relax the mind, which can contribute to a decrease in stress, as well as a decrease in depressive symptoms. Additionally, music has been shown to improve mood, intelligence and overall physical health (Medical News Today).

Creativity through art for expressing grief.

The use of art can help a person who has experienced trauma overcome challenges and help them cope with negative emotions (Stuckey, Nobel). The use of creativity provides the opportunity for people to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions without the use of words. For example, in viewing a painting, viewers of the art are, in a way, able to understand what the creator is going through. Expressive writing has this benefit, too. Expressive writing is a way of conveying oneself through writing. An example of expressive writing is journaling or writing poetry. It allows unchangeable negative events to be integrated into the writer’s life story, encouraging them to view the event in a more meaningful way. The act of writing opens an opportunity for the individual to process events that have happened to them.

How does creative expression affect the artist? Some may experience an increase of negative emotion after recalling difficult events. However, over time, these coping mechanisms are positive. Long-term effects include accurately addressing the aftermath and self-reporting physical and emotional health outcomes. Expressive writing in a positive way also has benefits. Research shows that people reporting on their “best self” led to an amplified sense of mental wellbeing.