The APPG on Arts, Health and Wellbeing have published a report which demonstrates that the arts can make an invaluable contribution to a healthy and health-creating society.
Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing presents the findings of two years of research, evidence-gathering and discussions with patients, health and social care professionals, artists and arts administrators, academics, people in local government, ministers, other policymakers and parliamentarians from both Houses of Parliament.
The report identifies how that the arts can make an invaluable contribution to a healthy and health-creating society offering a potential resource that should be embraced in health and social care systems which are in need of fresh thinking and cost-effective methods.
The report's 10 recommendations aim to improve practice, research and funding. The include recommending that trainee doctors and other health professionals should study the practical use of the arts for health and wellbeing and that policies should work towards creative activity being part of all our lives.
Key messages include:
• The arts can help keep us well, aid our recovery and support longer lives better lived.
• The arts can help meet major challenges facing health and social care: ageing, long-term conditions, loneliness and mental health.
• The arts can help save money in the health service and social care.
Read the full report and recommendations here
Read the short report and download the infographics here
