How does our engagement with the arts affect our wellbeing? From reading, writing and music to painting, drawing and dance, the arts can have a profound impact on our mental and physical health, how we interact with society, and how we think. The arts can also be a useful way of exploring the ideas, emotions and identities associated with health and wellbeing, whether in the present day or as part of historical research. While formal arts therapies have been in use for some decades, more recently health professionals and others have begun to recognise the broader role the arts might play in supporting society to stay well. This collection explores a variety of ways in which the arts, health and wellbeing intersect.
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How can the arts improve health and wellbeing?
Read now to access more details of How can the arts improve health and wellbeing?What evidence is there supporting the potential of the arts to aid health and wellbeing in both formal and informal settings?
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Does fiction make people more empathic and is that a good thing?
Read now to access more details of Does fiction make people more empathic and is that a good thing?Does reading fiction make people more empathic or do more empathic people tend to read more fiction?
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The healing power of nature writing
Read now to access more details of The healing power of nature writingWriting about the natural world and environment can work wonders for our wellbeing – this article explains how.
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The arts in Participatory Action Research
Read now to access more details of The arts in Participatory Action ResearchHow can storytelling via art help women when leaving an abusive environment and seeking help for their continued wellbeing?
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Introducing the psychology of our relationships with fictional villains
Learn more to access more details of Introducing the psychology of our relationships with fictional villainsThis free course, featuring interviews with famous crime fiction authors, explores psychological theory and research on the relationships we form with fictional characters.
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What happens to you when you read?
Learn more to access more details of What happens to you when you read?Ever wondered about the psychology of literature or stories? Or how a certain narrative might change our attitude or perspective?
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Working for health
Listen now to access more details of Working for healthWhat does your health mean to you? What features in society affect it? The tracks on this album explore influences such as stress, housing and employment on everyday health, and examines debates about the relative importance of individual lifestyles and looks at wider public-health concerns and the impact of changes in NHS policy and practice ...
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Supporting Mental Health Through Online Music Fandoms
Read now to access more details of Supporting Mental Health Through Online Music FandomsWhat are online fandoms? What are the benefits of joining one – and how to make it happen? Read and watch this personal exploration of online music fandoms by Dr. Lauren O'Hagan.
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Homeland, Carrie and how mental health is portrayed on-screen
Read now to access more details of Homeland, Carrie and how mental health is portrayed on-screenWriting in 2014, Meron Wondemaghen charts how Homeland's portrayal of Carrie Mathison's mental illness deteriorated as the series progressed.
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When Edward met Bertha: Mental Health, Colonialism, Race and Patriarchy in Jane Eyre
Read now to access more details of When Edward met Bertha: Mental Health, Colonialism, Race and Patriarchy in Jane EyreBertha Mason is described as the ‘insane’ ex-wife of Mr Rochester in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. What does the depiction of her tell us about views of mental illness, patriarchal society and ethnicity in the Victorian era? Siobhán Halliday explores in this personal reflection on race and colonialism as prompted by the novel.
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Candles and campfires: creativity and the menopause transition
Read now to access more details of Candles and campfires: creativity and the menopause transitionMenopause marks the end of menstruation but is often better thought of as a process rather than a one-off event. As someone who has experienced menopause, Catherine Pestano shares her insight about tuning into creativity to mark World Menopause Day.
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Emotion in motion: Supporting children’s understanding of different emotions through dance
Read now to access more details of Emotion in motion: Supporting children’s understanding of different emotions through danceDance is great for children's social and emotional learning. This article explores 'Dancemotion', a collaborative project led by The Open University.
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Music and mental health: the parallels between Victorian asylum treatments and modern social prescribing
Read now to access more details of Music and mental health: the parallels between Victorian asylum treatments and modern social prescribingDid you know that doctors were exploring the links between mental health and music back in the Victorian era? This article explains more about musical treatments in the asylum.
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