Health and the Creative Project

As we roll out a new program the beginning of 2016, we thought it would be helpful to show some of the science of why we believe it will be so effective. Through My Window is a program that will provide patients with creative projects that can be worked on at any point in time. Patients will receive picture frames to decorate as well as elegant coloring cards and the opportunity to write words to encourage and inspire themselves and other cancer patients. The concept for this program came from the observation that patients are often bored and in need of a positive activity that stimulates their mind but also helps them process emotionally. The benefit of this program is that Feel Beautiful Today volunteers will not need to be present for patients to participate, and the resources will help hospitals better assist their patients.

What are the benefits of painting, decorating or coloring? A study conducted by Heather J. Stuckey and Jeremy Nobel finds that “there is evidence that engagement with artistic activities... can enhance one’s moods, emotions, and other psychological states as well as have a salient impact on important physiological parameters” (254). Conditions patients face with a cancer diagnosis can include stress, depression, and grief (254, 257). They also struggle with “fear for the future, pain, sleeplessness, role loss, activity restriction, reduced self-confidence, and altered social relationships” (257). Participating in coloring activities or painting relieves that stress, puts the focus on something positive, and allows patients to form a new, positive identity that is not defined by cancer. It also provides an outlet for them to express their grief or fears in a safe space where words may be difficult to find or formulate. Other benefits include shorter hospital stays, better vital signs, and less symptoms of physical distress (257).

Writing has also proven an effective way of accessing negative emotions and learning to express them in a healthy way. While our program only provides a short amount of writing, our desire is that it will open up the desire for patients to further explore their feelings. According to Stuckey and Nobel, “...writing has positive consequences, and self-report studies suggest that writing about upsetting experiences produces long-term improvements in mood and
health” (259).

Every day we see the power of a communal experience including art. Patients going into a workshop are not the same as the patient leaving. It is Feel Beautiful Today’s desire to provide every resource we can to help patients live a better life, and we believe art is a key component in the healing process.

Reference:

Stuckey, Heather L., Nobel, Jeremy. “The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature.” American Journal of Public Health 100.2 (2010): 254-261. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.