artLIVE – Art is not just for viewing, it can also heal. A growing body of research shows that engaging with art helps reduce stress, improves mental health, and brings a sense of happiness.
Art – A tonic for the spirit
Numerous studies and initiatives worldwide have shown that visiting art exhibitions, listening to music, or participating in creative art activities can reduce symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.
A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Psychology proved that even a short period of viewing visual artworks, whether in person or online, helps lower cortisol levels (a hormone related to stress) while also improving the viewer’s mood.
Photo: The Courtauld
A new finding by the UK government in 2024 showed that increased access to art leads to better mental health. Recognizing this effectiveness, the charity Hospital Rooms in the UK has implemented numerous projects that connect artists with mental health patients. By organizing workshops in hospitals and placing artworks in treatment areas, they have created a healing space that helps patients feel acknowledged, connected, and emotionally restored.
At the Montreal Children’s Hospital in Canada, the ‘Art Hives’ program has brought art therapy directly into the hospital, creating a creative space for children and teenagers undergoing treatment. A prime example is Camille (17) and Méganne (14), who were each receiving separate treatments but connected with each other through a joint art project. Art Hive helped them connect, express their emotions, feel like normal people, and create beautiful memories and creative joy.
Photo: Fondationduchildren
Art is not just about making a living space beautiful; it also has a positive impact on the human mind. Activities like painting, crafting, and coloring have helped patients feel understood and heard, serving as a form of emotional recovery. This plays a crucial role in a patient’s holistic healing process.
Art – The ability to connect and restore
When we view artworks or participate in creative activities, we are often encouraged to explore our emotions and learn how to identify, interpret, and process complex feelings. This very process helps individuals develop self-awareness to understand themselves better, thereby building emotional stability.
Photo: Fondationduchildren
Engaging with art also opens a path for introspection, helping each person sense what is happening inside them—understanding what they are thinking, what they are feeling, and why. This is the foundation for building mental resilience, increasing one’s ability to overcome difficulties and adapt to adversity.
The ‘Your Art World’ program at the National Galleries of Scotland is another excellent example of art’s role in nurturing creativity and open-mindedness in children. Children learn to listen and respect differences, forming a multidimensional perspective through observation, discussion, and creative activities. This is a vital part of their development of creative thinking and social interaction skills.
Photo: National Galleries
For the elderly, participating in creative arts acts as a bridge that helps reduce loneliness and maintain connections with the community, thereby improving their quality of life. By visiting exhibitions or simply painting together, older adults can foster a sense of belonging and meaning, and improve their overall physical and mental health. Engaging in creative activities helps them maintain cognitive sharpness for longer and reduces the likelihood of depression.
Art – Nurturing the heart and body
Another study conducted in 2024 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Canada) tracked a group of elderly people who participated in regular art activities for three months. The results showed that after each guided tour, their average daily heart rate decreased significantly. Maintaining a stable heart rate and healthy blood pressure helps reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and many other cardiovascular diseases.
Photo: Time Out
When people are immersed in aesthetic beauty and experience positive emotions like excitement, empathy, or being moved by beauty, the body releases positive chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins, which create feelings of happiness, empathy, relaxation, and improved health.
Photo: Artsy Travels
Art not only soothes the human mind but also contributes to disease prevention. Having aesthetic experiences is not just a form of appreciation; it can also be a form of holistic healthcare that helps people feel relaxed, happy, and healthier.
Art – The link to happiness
Science has shown that when we appreciate art, the brain reacts strongly by releasing dopamine, a chemical linked to feelings of pleasure, optimism, and motivation. Sometimes a beautiful painting, a soothing piece of music, or an art exhibition can bring a noticeable sense of happiness and relaxation.
Photo: Viator
Art therapy is very diverse and not limited to painting. Forms like music, sculpture, architecture, installation art, drama, dance, and literature each offer unique benefits. Music therapy helps reduce stress, while painting and sculpture allow participants to release their emotions.
Designing spaces with aesthetics in mind also contributes to a sense of relaxation and peace for patients. All these forms encourage self-expression, strengthen social skills, and enhance resilience, which is especially important for those facing health challenges.
Photo: Mindtrip
Aesthetic experiences can act as a benign and sustainable ‘mental tonic.’ Spending time in visual and auditory spaces like museums, galleries, and concerts, or simply looking at a favorite painting, can help relieve pressure, increase the feeling of connection with oneself, and bring positive energy for the entire day.
The combination of art and medicine is opening a new era of healthcare. From rigorous scientific studies to inspiring real-life stories, we are increasingly aware of the healing power of emotion and imagination.
Source:
Artsy
Fondationduchildren
Frontiersin
Nationalgalleries
PubMed Central
