In a significant departure from its traditional focus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has delved into the realm of the arts, highlighting its potential impact on health and well-being.
Credit: This is an edited version of the article that originally appeared. congress magazine
Christopher Bailey, Director of Arts and Health at WHO, emphasizes that the arts are integral to the human experience, as well as encouraging good behavior and physical activity. The Jameel Arts and Health Lab, headquartered at New York University and the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, advocates for arts and health programs, strives to promote scientific research, and educates policy makers on how culture can improve health. We encourage people to recognize that it is a catalyst for
Post-pandemic focus on mental health
In the aftermath of the global pandemic, there has been a resurgence of interest in the relationship between art and happiness. Lawmakers and health officials are increasingly paying attention to the potential of the arts, given the severe impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on mental health. This shift follows a 2019 WHO report that challenges traditional definitions of health as encompassing overall well-being, not just the absence of disease.
“Music for motherhood”: a huge success
The first program “Music for Motherhood”, implemented in cooperation with Denmark, Italy and Romania, has yielded promising results. A 10-week singing session with new mothers suffering from postpartum depression demonstrated significant positive effects. Mothers reported feeling less lonely and isolated, and stronger bonds with their children. Clinical evidence suggests that the effectiveness of this intervention exceeds conventional medicine.
Culture of health and EU concerns
The EU also recognizes the benefits of cultural intervention in healthcare. Culture For Health compiles a database of over 800 of her projects around the world, partially funded by the European Commission. The EU’s mental health strategy, unveiled by EU health chief Stella Kyriakides, highlights the role of arts and culture in promoting positive mental health, supporting social inclusion and combating mental health stigma. .
Community Initiatives: Prescribing Art for Health
At the local level, efforts to promote art for well-being are growing. In Brussels, patients receive museum prescriptions, and a museum in Madrid offers customized tours for Alzheimer’s patients. Culture For Health’s findings, published after 18 months of data collection, advocate for an EU-wide push for culturally-based social prescribing and dedicated provisions in policy documents.
Christopher Bailey acknowledges the potential impact of art on mental health, but emphasizes that it goes beyond a simplistic approach. Art provides a means to understand the world, find meaning, and come to terms with difficult situations. This is a holistic perspective that aims to not only reduce the complexity of life, but also overcome and embrace it.
By embracing the healing potential of art, the WHO initiative signals a paradigm shift in health care, encouraging a more comprehensive and comprehensive approach to health.