By the end of 2021, the Dublin Arts Council is working with multiple organizations to set up exhibitions and art experiences related to wellness in Dublin, Ohio. The aim of these exhibitions is to help people in the community with art to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Some of the participating organizations that will assist with the programs are the Washington Township Fire & Emergency Medical Service, Dublin City Schools, and a variety of departments within Dublin City. The Health & Wellness Initiative is funded through grants from organizations such as the City of Dublin, Ohio Arts Council, Dublin Community Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
As a provider of psychiatric treatment in Dublin, we know how important and timely this initiative is. These programs come at an opportune time as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and people recover from the negative mental health effects of the coronavirus pandemic. These events and exhibitions aim to harness the use of art to promote emotional wellbeing in the Columbus area.
The link between art and mental health
There have been several studies of the benefits of using art to improve people’s wellbeing and mental health, and in response, art therapy programs have grown in popularity over the past few decades.
An evaluation of a longstanding weekly arts workshop in the UK found these services were associated with a 71% decrease in anxiety and a 73% decrease in depression. In addition, 76% of participants said that their well-being had increased.1 Similar results have been shown around the world.
Although art is not typically seen as an evidence-based behavioral disease treatment, Canada was the first country to allow doctors to officially prescribe art activities for mental health programs. The UK soon followed, allowing doctors to officially prescribe art activities and other hobby-related treatments for a variety of conditions.2
The Dublin Arts Council’s Art & Wellness Initiative hopes to make these techniques readily available to the community and thereby improve the general wellbeing of members. Further information on individual events and exhibitions can be found online at Dublin Art Council website.
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness, it’s okay to ask for help. Our mental health professionals in Dublin, Ohio use a blend of evidence-based therapies as well as holistic practices to deliver comprehensive care to patients. To find out more about us at Vertava Health Dublin or to begin your healing journey, contact us today.
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