Lost for words? Research shows art therapy brings benefits for mental health

Studies suggest art therapy could support people with a range of health conditions.
Girl holding up drawing of face on cardboard, white background. Mental Health. Art therapy.

Creating art for healing purposes dates back tens of thousands of years, to the practices of First Nations people around the world. Art therapy uses creative processes, primarily visual art such as painting, drawing or sculpture, with a view to improving physical health and emotional wellbeing.

In a study published this month in the Journal of Mental Health, we found art therapy was associated with positive outcomes for children and adolescents in a hospital-based mental health unit.

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