It's well known that there’s a major stigma surrounding the issue of mental health in society. “Let’s not be dramatic. She doesn't need therapy. It's not like she’s crazy or anything.” or “Lately, people have become so weak. They get depressed over the slightest inconveniences.” Sounds familiar? Most if not all of us have come across similar phrases at some point in our lives. Why all the negativity (especially amongst people of colour)? Perhaps it's because of the abusive psychological experiments that patients experienced when psychology as a science developed, or the ongoing healthcare discrimination that they continue to face. However, the most vital ingredient for every stigma to be made is a lack of understanding and fear.
As a result, seeking help from mental health professionals has become a sort of taboo. To make mental health and therapy less intimidating and more inviting, therapists and mental health professionals have developed a more warm and personable approach: art therapy.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is the tool psychologists and therapists use to help people reveal their thoughts and emotions in a way that simple words could never. These professionals observed that art is and has been the foundation of human communication throughout time. Art therapy is not about creating appealing paintings and figurines. The creative process encourages clients to learn more about themselves and use healthier ways to cope with life obstacles in an engaging way as opposed to the interrogative and conventional style of therapy.
What makes art therapy a great alternative?
The African continent has suffered an unwarranted amount of crises and disasters. With the food shortage in Sudan, the cobalt mining crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo or the gender-based violence in South Africa to name a few, it's an undeniable fact that many Africans have felt trauma and consequentially struggle with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and other stress-related disorders. As art therapist, counsellor and founder of BARAH Expressive Art in Egypt, Amany Shenouda states that traumatic experiences cause the part of the brain responsible for language to “switch off “, and make people enter survival mode. In survival mode, people tend to struggle expressing themselves verbally. Art therapy allows people to share what's on their minds in a way that doesn't require words.
For many Africans, identity is grounded in cultural heritage and so the influence of culture over mental health cannot be undermined. Art therapy gives people the opportunity to address mental health concerns in a way that is culturally appropriate and convenient by using traditional African art forms as part of the process.
In South Africa, a culturally diverse country with 11 official languages, talk therapy may not be the best approach because language can be misinterpreted between people of different backgrounds. Itsoseng Clinic based at the University of Pretoria makes use of art therapy to overcome these obstacles. Lerato who was a client at Itsoseng Clinic described her experience with art therapy. As someone whose first language is not English, Lerato said that the art she created helped open the door for conversation with her therapist and helped her understand more about herself.
Anno’s One Fine Day is a group based in Kenya that promotes art to empower children and adults by building self-esteem and an understanding of oneself. Founded by Krysteen Savane, the group aims to help children plagued by poverty in Kenya and Malawi by giving them a space to explore their creative capabilities through the programmes that the group offers. The She/He programme, for example, educates children about sexual reproduction, career and entrepreneurship, hygiene and sanitation and identity alongside the creative classes in art, drama, music, ballet, dance and creative writing.
The relationship between art and the soul is deeply intertwined. At its core, art heals, empowers and restores the psyche. It allows individuals to work through difficult emotions and complex thoughts as well as gain a positive outlook on life. Art therapy can greatly contribute to building a stronger collective bond between vibrant communities and cultures across the continent in a more exciting way that is not subjected to societal judgment.
