For ages, man has used art, as a medium of self-expression, to express emotions, thoughts, personal loss, struggles and achievements. Creativity itself, as a form of self-expression, is very liberating and therapeutic.
There is nothing more fulfilling and calming than being able to express freely, openly and without being judged. And, art is that medium that allows expression in the most beautiful way. For some, art is a hobby and for others it is a vocation, even profession. There are many out there, however, who use art as therapy, to heal one’s inner being, as a shield to prevent triggers even to deal with trauma.
Art therapy is used to treat mental illnesses and enhancing the quality of life as it helps in controlling behavioural patterns related to psychosocially challenging behaviours even helps in slowing down deteriorating cognitive state of a person.
By helping people express more freely, art therapy has proved to be very effective in improving mental health of patients that, in turn, leads to improvement in behavioural patterns and bettering interpersonal relationships.
Mandala art by Bangalore-based Sumita Sanjay. This ancientAn effective tool for mental health rehabilitation, art therapy is based on the idea that individuals can recover and heal by way of artistic expression of their inner self.
The mental health burden
Mental and behavioural problems form a 12 per cent share of the disease burden worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the mental health burden in India is 2,443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per one lakh population, with a 21.1 age-adjusted suicide rate per one lakh population.
The mental health numbers draw a grim picture. Recently, mental health has been identified as a serious public health concern. There is a need for more attention, experts, treatment facilities and more importantly, need to shun the taboo associated with mental health disorders.
Statistics reveal that worldwide, two out of three people diagnosed with psychosis do not receive the specialist mental health care that is needed. Another WHO report, the World Health Report 2001 stated that of the 45 million people who suffer from mental and behavioural problems, a ‘very small proportion’ is cared for appropriately.
Among the many mental health disorders, depression is one of the most common and significantly contributes to the global mental health burden. About five per cent of adults worldwide suffer from depression and women are more prone to be affected by depression than men.
Depression can lead to suicide. Major depressive disorders affect the overall quality of life and physical well-being as they may manifest into physical and mental side effects. Unfortunately, only half of individuals with depression get assistance needed.
Today, art therapy has become an important component of the therapeutic healthcare segment and is used extensively for improvement and treatment of mental health problems. Art therapy is a generic term comprising the whole array of treatments – painting, drawing, crafts, music therapy, dance, etc.
Using art therapy techniques for treatment of mental illnesses is gaining popularity gradually owing to the many benefits it offers. Art therapy replaces the need of verbal expression that is often a hurdle in healthcare of this nature. It offers a holistic approach to treatment that focuses on the individual and the recovery process at a very subtle level.
It has proved to be extremely useful for children who face difficulties in expressing their thoughts and emotions. Art opens a new channel of communication, a non-verbal form of communication that helps therapists find the source of trauma in affected children.
Experts believe when children use colours and drawings as they speak about their traumatic experiences, it reduces the feeling of anxiety, fear and anger.
When art therapy is used with children, their mental state is assessed through the choice of colours, pressure applied in the strokes, the pattern, etc. A common method used with children is the House-Tree-Person method where a child is asked to draw a house, a tree and a person and is asked questions about each picture the child has drawn.
Art to explore inner self
In August 2022, the residents of Liverpool in the United Kingdom woke up, one morning, to a beautifully-drawn ‘Mandala’ art installation, the size of one and half football field.
The piece of land art called ‘The Knowsley Mandala’ is made of natural elements and is rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is believed that when one enters the mandala creation and moves towards the centre, there is a spiritual transformation and one moves from suffering to joy.
Mandala art comprises patterns in a complex abstract design that are usually circular in form. The centuries-old motifs depict the cosmos and have been used by artists all over the world who have given the art their unique touch.
Originating in India, Mandala patterns were first seen in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. It was the Buddhist preachers who took this artwork outside India along the Silk Route to China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Indonesia.
In Hindu philosophy, a mandala creation is a square-shaped motif with a circle at the centre while the Buddhists the mandala is a circular pattern that is created to discover one’s true self. Interestingly, even Native American people, the indigenous people of the American subcontinent, have used this art to represent the cosmos.
Mandala art is also used for art therapy and has been incorporated in psychotherapy by experts in many countries. The ancient art form helps instil a sense of balance, develop concentration, reduce stress and anxiety and promotes peace and tranquillity.
Art therapy rooted in culture
Art therapy is not generic in nature but customised for every individual where art therapists carefully plan to achieve therapeutic goals. This is done by choosing the right material, exercise and intervention for the patient. Throughout history, painting, dancing, chanting, storytelling have been used as healing rituals.
Broadly speaking, art therapy benefits as it reduces stress levels, increase cognitive abilities, increase insight and memory, heal trauma and helps an individual feel fulfilled. Art leads to creation which is what helps individuals boost their self-esteem. Creating art, in itself, is a fulfilling and inspiring process through which one can develop a talent. The process entails planning and execution which grants an individual a sense of accomplishment.
The creative process of generating an artwork helps people to cope with stress, anxiety and despair. In the long run, art-based activities help alleviate the burden of chronic mental illnesses. Art therapy helps in dealing with emotional traumas by enhancing self-awareness and transforming one’s way of thinking. Many cultures believe that artistic expression significantly helps in the healing process.
In ancient cultures, art has been integral to daily life and existence. Indigenous groups acknowledge and respect the complexities of natural art that also inspires indigenous art that are based on impermanence, gratitude, meaningful existence, etc. Native art strives to establish and strengthen connection with self and with nature to promote a holistic sense of well-being.
In India, traditional art such as kolam (rice flour drawings) of South India, rangoli of North India, paintings in tribal settlements, etc. are commonplace. In most traditional homes, even today, a kolam or rangoli is drawn every day at the entrance of the house or in the courtyard. Then there are festivals and rituals that allow grand celebrations of these traditional artworks.