Mental Health/Creative Arts—
By Mark Moran, producer, Arizona News Connection, a bureau of Public News Service.
Arizona social scientists are combining arts and research to slow the progression of dementia in seniors and address growing anxiety among young people.
They have data showing creative arts can improve mental health in daily life.
Yunjia Yang, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona College of Public Health, has combined her background as a professional dancer in Beijing with her mental health research to show that creative arts can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment in older adults.
“The choreography dance, when you repeat, learn the movement and repeat the movement, those movements can help with reaction time, memory, and general cognitive health,” Yang explained.
Yang’s research also showed improvisational dance, which tends to be more free-form, increases creativity and reduces anxiety. The National Library of Medicine published a report showing studio arts, such as drawing or painting, can help adolescents manage mental health conditions.
Through combining her academic research and hands-on therapy, Yang has created Creative Arts for Lowering Mental Stress, or CALM workshops, which she said take a holistic approach to addressing stress and anxiety.
“In CALM workshop, we use Zen doodling, sound bath meditation, healing dance and tai chi to help students and faculty reset,” Yang outlined. “The goal is to build resilience before stress becomes overwhelming.”
The World Health Organization has acknowledged the importance of the arts to overall mental and physical well-being. It convenes annually to discuss and promote research and to draw global attention to its significance.
