From painting and drawing to music and writing, students turn to creative outlets as a way to cope with stress and mental health challenges.

Alongside this practice, there is a growing recognition of utilizing art for enhanced mental well-being. There are many different advantages to using art as a way to promote better mental health. 

“Art is such a great way for people to express themselves, and it is such a good practice for anyone to relieve stress,” Karyn Kravetz, associate director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County, said.

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County works to plan, fund and monitor the addiction, treatment and prevention programs for all residents within Portage County. 

Working with different art forms can be very helpful, especially for those who are going through recovery. It is an opportunity to learn new ways to express yourself, Kravetz said. The Mental Health and Recovery Board has had previous partnerships with the Wick Poetry Center to work with clients on the art of expressive writing, which has been very beneficial in the art of self-expression and self-discovery.  

One aspect of using art for mental health is that it does not require any skill or expertise in the practice of drawing or artistic techniques. Whether it is writing in a journal or drawing quick scribbles on a page, the process of self-expression has no limits. 

“While I’m not an art major, I do like to draw during my free time, and I’ve noticed that it does help when I might be feeling stressed about upcoming projects or tests in my classes,” Jimmy Ensinger, a freshman finance major, said.

Kravetz echoed this statement by emphasizing that art can be done solely for personal use, “It can be something you do just for yourself, not to be judged, but to help take any kind of pressure off of yourself,” Kravetz said. 

As students dive into these different creative outlets, they not only benefit from this personally, but are given the opportunity to connect with peers who might be facing similar challenges. 

Ensinger said realizing some of his classmates share the same reasons for engaging in different art forms helps him feel more connected with his peers.

Kaitlyn Roth is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].