For World Mental Health Day here at Craftship we wanted to focus on how art and craft can help to support our mental wellbeing. Crafts have been used as holistic therapy since the second world war. Veterans then and now have taken part in activities such as art, pottery, basketry, and gardening to help relieve the symptoms of PTSD. Numerous studies have shown that activities such as art, crafts, dance, music, and drama can have beneficial effects for those suffering from mental health conditions. They can also be beneficial for helping to overcome stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness and protect against dementia by keeping the mind stimulated and active. In addition, crafts were found to have the following additional benefits:
- Relaxing
- Enjoyable
- Improve mood
- Increase confidence
- Provide social interaction
- Increase cognitive abilities
- Create a sense of pride and satisfaction
Engaging in crafts can be grounding, enabling us to be more present and can foster piece of mind. It’s believed that this is brought about by the combination of focus which keeps the mind from wandering off into negative thoughts and repetition which helps to reduce stress. These are all key elements that help us to foster mindfulness. A
study in 2016 showed that taking part in creative activities helped to lower Cortisol, the primary hormone relating to stress. At the same time, it can help stimulate Dopamine, which is a chemical released in our brain which triggers the feeling of happiness. It doesn’t seem to matter which crafts you take part in or whether you do it on your own with a friend or family member or part of a group, all have similar effects. If you’ve not crafted before then there are many ways of getting involved and trying out different activities. With so many available there will be something that appeals to everyone. You could look for a local groups, these are often advertised in community hall’s libraries, local magazines and even doctors surgeries. The internet is probably the easiest source though with listings on both Facebook, Google or local media websites. If you’d rather start in the comfort or your own home, you could try a kit which contains everything you need to get you started. These can be a cost-effective way of trying something new. With kits starting at around £10 and with an average of £20 - £40 there is something for all budgets. Alternatively, sites such as Pinterest or YouTube can be a great resource for free instructions on how to make things from beginner up to expert level. There is a huge array or instructional videos to choose from. You will have to buy the materials but pound shops, supermarkets and discount stores often carry craft materials at reasonable prices. Whatever the route you choose the important thing is to make a start and give it a go. So, what are you going to make today?
