For students, the act of creating art can be more than just a hobby–it can serve as a positive outlet for mental health. Throughout schools and art studios, students are turning to the arts as an essential tool for managing their mental health.
The Barn for Artistic Youth (BAY) is an art school next to the Book Barn in Niantic that offers art classes for students from first grade to high school. Students work on all kinds of art at BAY, from painting and drawing to charcoal, linoleum printing, and more.
“Creativity can be used as a coping skill for students to use to self-regulate themselves when they are feeling upset. It can also be a way for students to express complex emotions,” Community Health Center counselor and ELHS part-time counselor Cassandra Leuchner said.
Jay Deeble, junior at Three Rivers and student at BAY, always had a passion for art.
“I have ADHD, so I’ve always struggled with having a lot of pent-up energy. For art, I get this sense of release when I doodle or draw because it helps me focus some of my nervous energy on other things,” Deeble said.
With 45 percent of high school students feeling stressed during the school day as seen in studies by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, art has shown to be a great way to express and support emotional well-being. According to them, simply observing art can boost serotonin and increase blood flow to the brain. This natural connection between art and the brain supports the benefits of art and art therapy.
Creativity can help promote relaxation and stress reduction, build self-esteem, enhance focus and concentration, and improve problem solving skills,” Ms. Leuchner said.
BAY’s high school art teacher Teresa Bonillo sees students “change through their confidence and skill level, along with their creativity to try new things and to not worry about it.”
“In this particular time period, it is important to have the confidence to try. We spend a long time convincing kids to try– there isn’t a right or wrong. You just need to try, and we’ll go from there,” BAY owner Jan Cushing said.
Bonillo and Cushing believe that engaging in art with the understanding that there is “no right or wrong” can greatly benefit mental health by creating a sense of freedom. Having this mindset lets individuals let go of the fear of perfection and failure, which often leads to anxiety and stress.
“Because of the variety of projects that we do every year, I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to experiment with a lot of different materials; stuff I never would’ve picked up in my free time because I don’t have the time or the resources,” Deeble said. “Having freedom with these materials without having to be frugal or worry about the mess, makes me more relaxed in my approach, and I’ve learned a lot of things about myself and my artistic identity.”
Likewise, the art of music can have the same effect. Whether it’s simply listening to music or learning to play an instrument, music can create positive benefits for mental health. Musician and ELHS junior Molly Cooper has been playing guitar for seven years and believes music has a positive benefit for mental health.
“I listen to music almost every second of every day and play the guitar whenever I get the chance. Listening to music helps me focus a lot, and distract myself from negative thoughts, especially if it’s something upbeat like the band Queen,” Cooper said.
“Talking about emotions can be difficult for many people. Music is a powerful way for youth to understand and cope with their emotions. Music can have a variety of benefits, no matter your mood. Music can help students feel a sense of connection and feel like they are not alone,” Ms. Leuchner said.
As an artist and musician myself, it is safe to say that art is an easy and effective way to express my emotions on paper, or the strings of a cello or guitar. Art has a way of transforming overwhelming emotions into something calming. The creative process provides joy and peace, reminding anyone who engages with it that even in imperfection, there is beauty to be discovered.
