The importance of art for an individual’s well-being

Creative activities like singing, dancing, drumming, and weaving have always been important in indigenous culture. These practices were used for religious, cultural, and political purposes and were closely connected to identity and community health. Even though efforts were made to erase these practices, many of them have survived and remain key to the health and healing of Indigenous peoples today.

The link between creatives arts and health is more important than it may appear, indeed creativity has played a key role in supporting the well-being of indigenous communities.

Health professionals are now focusing more on the factors which affect an individal's health, highlighting the health differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

Art is now used as therapy and it has been defined as the union of creative processes and psychotherapy to facilitates the sharing of thoughts and feelings. Art therapists are specially trained and work in a range of settings, including counseling offices, hospitals, elder care homes, and substance abuse treatment facilities. The processes is composed by varied forms of creative expression which help to remove communication barriers by providing alternatives to verbal dialogue;

In addition, engaging in creative activities helps protect mental health by boosting self-esteem and confidence. It also has physical benefits, such as lowering heart rate and blood pressure and increasing the release of feel-good chemicals called endorphins.