Further to the work of the Cavan & Monaghan Arts & Health Forum, Kim Doherty Development Officer Mental Health Ireland, represented Cavan Arts and Health Forum and Mental Health Ireland by attending a brainstorming and dialogue events on the important topic of young people, their mental health & culture.

This global event was a great success with 22 countries participating in it and Ireland was represented by Kim; of the Cavan Monaghan Arts and Health Forum and Mental Health Forum. 

There was a brilliant variety where 55 participants took part in the dialogue.

Below is an extract taken from the ‘Voices of Culture’ website explaining the topic further;

https://voicesofculture.eu/2022/06/17/the-role-of-cultural-and-creactive-sectors-in-improving-mental-health-of-the-youth/

What is it about?

The third topic of Voices of Culture 2021 – 2023 generated project ideas and policy recommendations for the cultural and creative sectors and decision-makers on the topic of the role of the cultural and creative sectors in improving mental health of young people.

Why is it important?

More than one in six people across EU countries had a mental health problem in 2016, well before the pandemic. “Mental health problems cover a wide range of illnesses, including disorders such as mild or moderate anxiety and depression, drug and alcohol use disorders, and severe disorders such as severe depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia” (OECD/EU 2018). Mental health problems can be caused or aggravated by behavioural and environmental factors.

Worldwide and in the EU, there are numerous cultural and creative projects that address at different levels the mental health and wellbeing of young people, in terms of promotion, prevention, treatment, and management.

The recent scoping review promoted by WHO acknowledges that the aesthetic and emotional components of arts activities can provide opportunities for emotional expression, emotion regulation – intrinsic to how we manage our mental health – and stress reduction. Evidence is also abundant on the preventive benefits of arts engagement in relation to mental health. The Report shows how playing and listening to music, dancing, art and visiting cultural sites are all associated with stress management and prevention, lower levels of biological stress in daily life and lower daily anxiety. Cultural participation can also help to reduce the risk of developing mental illness such as depression in adolescence. Participating in arts activities can build self-esteem, self-acceptance, confidence, and self-worth, which are protective against mental illness.

For a more detailed overview of the topic, please read the framework paper by our topic expert Annalisa Cicerchia.

How did we do it?

Successful applicants were invited to a Brainstorming Meeting at Goethe-Institut Brussels on the 04.10.2022 – 05.10.2022 and to a Dialogue Meeting at Goethe-Institut Brussels on the 08.12.2022 to share their input on several areas of discussion:

• Evidence on the contribution of the cultural and creative sectors to improving the mental health and well-being of young people, at national and international level.
• Synergies with other policy fields (health, education, social welfare, etc.) to maximize results.
• Examples of interventions where there is robust evidence of successful outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Conditions for success of such interventions.

Voices of Culture participants wrote a Brainstorming Report after the Brainstorming Meeting. In this report, the results of the discussion between participants at the Brainstorming Meeting were expressed. Afterwards, the report got presented by participants to the European Commission at the Dialogue Meeting.

Please be aware that Voices of Culture is a platform for dialogue between the cultural sector and the European Commission provided by the European Commission. The Voices of Culture team only facilitates this process and is not responsible for writing the Brainstorming Report. This responsibility lies with participants. Voices Of Culture will be covering participant’s travel expenses associated with this topic.