Art is Sustenance: The Role of Art in Health

Abstract

The WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It roots health firmly within society and culture. Art sustains our minds, bodies, and souls. It helps us connect with our pain as much as our joy. The arts are vital to both our physical and mental health and impact health and well-being at all stages of life. The arts can benefit medicine and healthcare, both for patients and healthcare professionals through healing and stress reduction, pain management, cognitive rehabilitation, expression and communication, education and training, community building and social support, and enhancing the healthcare environment. Incorporating the arts into medical care requires collaboration between healthcare professionals, artists, and therapists. As the evidence supporting the benefits of the arts in healthcare is continually growing, the use of the arts as a complementary approach to conventional medical treatments is gaining recognition and acceptance globally in healthcare settings.

Presenters

Siu Challons-Lipton
Executive Director and Professor of Art History, Department of Art, Design and Music, Queens Univeristy of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

2024 Special Focus—-Art for Sustenance

KEYWORDS

ARTS, SUSTENANCE, HEALTH, HEALTHCARE, SOCIETY