This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, with this year’s theme focusing on ‘anxiety’.
Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.
Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food.
There are many different ways to treat anxiety, and here at QVT we find that some of the activities we run for our clients, especially our art therapy classes and art groups can really help when it comes to managing anxiety and helping them to relax.
Art can be an extremely powerful tool for managing anxiety. It can help you express your feelings, provide a creative outlet, and even give you an opportunity to connect with others. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art as a medium for self-expression, healing, and growth. It has been used to help people cope with anxiety and other mental health issues for decades. Through creative arts therapy, individuals can explore their emotions, gain insight into their thoughts and feelings, and find relief from anxiety. Art therapy can also offer a safe space to express oneself without judgment or fear of being misunderstood. By engaging in creative activities such as painting, drawing, sculpting, or even writing poetry, individuals can learn how to better manage their anxiety in healthy ways and develop coping skills that will last a lifetime.
Art therapy is a therapeutic practice that uses art and creative activities to help people express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. It can be used to treat a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD. There are various types of art therapies such as visual arts therapy, music art therapy, guided imagery and music. Each type has its own benefits and can be used in different ways to help individuals cope with their mental health issues.
As you can see from some of the photos here, our clients who participate in art therapy sessions are a talented bunch, and have produced some amazing art work! Our clients say that these sessions are so beneficial to their wellbeing, and we have our amazing staff and volunteers to thank for enabling these sessions to happen.
For more on how you can become a volunteer and facilitate art sessions (and other activities), head on over to our volunteering web page