Children with musical training perform better in math, language, and reading. Early music lessons enhance brain plasticity and connectivity. The benefits of visual art programs are equally impressive. Unfortunately, educational budget cuts have slashed music and arts programs across the US in recent years. Considering the lifelong benefits of art training, many educators believe this to be a short-sighted policy.
A study of over 10, students found that a one-hour trip to an art museum changed the way they thought and felt.
Students who visited a museum not only showed improved critical thinking skills , they also exhibited greater empathy regarding how people lived in the past and expressed greater tolerance towards people different than themselves. We hear this question often. Here's my answer:.
Professor Semir Zeki, a neurobiologist at the University College London, discovered that simply the act of viewing art gives pleasure, much like falling in love. Brain scans revealed that looking at works of art triggers a surge of dopamine in the same area of the brain that registers romantic love. Dementia is mainly thought of as a memory loss problem, but patients also experience other symptoms, such as agitation, aggression, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. When dementia patients are encouraged to create visual art, they derive obvious pleasure from it.
It improves their social behavior and self-esteem, and reduces psychiatric symptoms. Millions of people deal with chronic health conditions and the stress, anxiety, and depression that accompany them. In The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature , researchers analyzed and reported on the findings of over studies done on the benefits of art on physical and psychological health.
John Graham-Pole, MD, is a retired pediatric oncologist who wrote poetry to process some of the grim realities he faced working at a hospital. He developed informal art workshops to help both patients and staff cope better, through writing and painting, with whatever was happening to them.
For those who are more analytical, you can start by creating a mind map to visualize your thoughts or feelings. It can give us a much-needed mental break from current events and allow us to be more mindful. She says that the flow state is a good place to be. When we go there, we can stimulate our minds, embrace mindfulness and experience feelings of accomplishment or mastery. Another benefit of tapping into our creativity is that we can use it to come up with new ways to connect with the people who are important to us.
We can text. We can just pick up the phone and call people. We can get a hold of someone across the country or FaceTime them immediately. For example, telling someone that you love them can sometimes be difficult to do verbally. But it might be easier to write it in a letter or a card. It lets them know that someone was thinking about them. And knowing this makes us feel good, too. When you can think outside of yourself, it opens you up and broadens your perspective. With the holidays approaching, writing letters or making your own cards are wonderful ways to connect with the special people in your life.
Someone is going to appreciate your finished piece because you made it for them. Piggy-backing on the notion of others showing appreciation for your work, the social aspects of art can become much broader than that.
Art has the ability to connect people who have the same interests. For example, people might enjoy the same kind of art, the same era or genre of it, or respect the same artists. It gets people talking to each other, especially those who share the same passions. Last but not least, art is just a fun and wholesome hobby to do that can make time fly.
Having fun and enjoying yourself is good for your mental health. Simply due to the fact it can uplift your mood. Also that it can give you a sense of satisfaction that you did something positive and productive with your day. For a lot of people, art has become a staple in their lives. It then becomes something that they look forward to doing and will actively make time for it.
Hopefully, this article has shown you how art can be valuable to your mental health and perhaps, it can also become something that gives you fulfilment and you can appreciate for the rest of your life. Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics.
Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
It stimulates progress, it helps us cope, and more than anything, it helps us frame the narrative of our own humanity. Tel Email uvcsreg uvic. Toggle navigation Menu. How arts benefits us all, as humans. Latest News. My account Staff login Visit UVic.
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