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No.2
Healing the Mind with Color: Reflections on Healthcare PR Inspired by Art Therapy
March. 17, 2021 By Jalynn Zhang
With society’s development, people in today’s society face different pressures, and the number of people suffering from psychological diseases such as anxiety is increasing obviously. According to research done by the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, people suffering from anxiety disorder reach 18.1% in the United States. Even though anxiety disorder is treatable, there is only 36.9% of patients receive treatments (Fact & Statistics: Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA). It is significant that for healthcare PR practitioners to promote treatments for anxiety disorders.
Many people suffering from mental disorders tend to be afraid of getting treatments because people worry that they will be looked upon differently by society for these unusual treatments. However, there is one kind of therapy that is different from other boring ways. It is creative, colorful, and can calm people’s confused thoughts -- art therapy.
The idea of art therapy was first mentioned in 1942. A British artist Adrian Hill created this word after he recovered from tuberculosis, and he found out that there are significant therapeutic benefits of painting and creating art. After Hill practice art therapies several times, he documented this term in his book, Art Versus
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Illness, in 1945. Art therapy covers various fields. For instance, the Department of Creative Arts Therapy at Syracuse University provides information including art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, and drama therapy (Department of Creative ARTS Therapy, 2021).
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As a relatively new treatment, art therapy shows its potential of benefiting people who are suffering
enormous pressures. According to studies and research from the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy can help “foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, and reduce and resolve conflicts and distress” (Tauber, 2018). Instead of bringing general curative effects to mental illness, art therapy has specific help to people dealing with anxiety disorders. In the article “Does Art Therapy Work for Anxiety? Creativity and Comprehensive Treatment Programs,” written by Avery Tauber (2018), there are three main benefits that art therapy will bring to people with anxiety: Calms the nervous system, encourages self-expression, and increases self-awareness.
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​Art therapy, as a gentle treatment, is often ignored by the public. According to Career in Psychology, demand for art therapists has been declining every year since 2009. Nowadays, there are about 5,000 people who are the member of the American Art Therapy Association, which is not a significant amount of people (Art therapist employment outlook, 2019). As a student studying both Public Relations and Psychology, I feel like we should pay more attention to mental health-related fields when we serve as a healthcare-focused PR agency. Since cognitive and behavioral health services are often criticized, the industry needs PR practitioners to help build a correct image and guide people to have a proper understanding of mental health so that people are willing to seek help when they need it.
When I was doing research, I found a case of how a successful public relations practice can help communication in mental health. The Pinnacle Treatment Centers (PTC) is a mental healthcare center that provides treatment and caring specifically for addiction. According to the Hoyt Organization (THO), a PR agency that focuses on real estate, professional services, technology, healthcare, financial and consumer markets, the PTC wants to destigmatize the treatment of substance use disorders and people struggling with
addiction while preserving the integrity of the PTC brand and elevating its visibility (How pr can shape the mental health conversation, 2020). THO does find spokespeople for each region that the PTC would like to establish their images. The spokesperson can be an experienced psychiatrist who can express the correct way of viewing psychological treatment. After posting some video clips and live interviews on social media, the THO helps the PTC to maximize the investment in the campaign. Language is everything. Once an organization is willing to speak up for the mental healthcare industry, there will be greater social acceptance of treatment for mental illness.
Art Therapy Program from Kids Escaping Drugs
#arttherapy #art #artpr #anxiety #healthcarepr #communication #publicrelations
References:
Art therapist employment outlook. (2019, January 03). Retrieved from https://careersinpsychology.org/employment-outlook-guidance-art-therapist/
Department of Creative ARTS Therapy. (2021, January 07). Retrieved from https://vpa.syr.edu/academics/creative-arts-therapy/
Facts & statistics: Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorders%20are%20the%20most,of%20those%20suffering%20receive%20treatment.
How pr can shape the mental health conversation. (2020, December 08). Retrieved from https://www.hoytorg.com/how-pr-can-shape-the-mental-health-conversation/
Tauber, A. (2020, October 11). Does art therapy work for anxiety? Creativity and comprehensive treatment programs. Retrieved from https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/does-art-therapy-work-for-anxiety-creativity-and-comprehensive-treatment-programs/#:~:text=Art%20therapy%20works%20to%20heal,seek%20healing%20from%20anxiety%20disorders.
