Types of Art That Can Help Improve Mental Health

Art has long been used as a form of self-expression, healing, and reflection. Whether you’re dealing with stress or anxiety, or simply looking for a way to unwind, engaging in creative activities can have a powerful impact on your mental health. The act of creating allows you to explore your emotions, release tension, and focus your energy in a positive direction.

In this article, we’ll explore various types of art that can improve mental health, including drawing, scrapbooking, writing, photography, and making music. Along the way, you’ll find prompt ideas to inspire your own creative journey.

1. Drawing and Painting: Visual Expression for Emotional Release

Drawing and painting are excellent ways to express feelings that are difficult to describe. These art forms encourage you to externalize your emotions, making them easier to process. Drawing is particularly beneficial for calming the mind, improving focus, and promoting relaxation.

Examples:

• Abstract art: Focus on shapes, lines, and colors without worrying about creating something “realistic.” This allows you to express feelings without needing words.

• Mindful doodling: Zentangles or mandalas are great for relieving stress as they involve repetitive patterns that encourage mindfulness.

• Emotional color wheel: Use colors to represent different emotions. For example, red for anger, blue for sadness, or yellow for joy.

Prompt Ideas:

• Draw how you feel today without using any specific shapes or forms. Let the colors and lines represent your emotions.

• Paint a place where you feel safe and at peace. It could be real or imagined.

• Create a piece using only one color—explore the different shades and tones to express a single emotion.

2. Scrapbooking: Crafting Memories to Soothe the Soul

Scrapbooking combines creativity and reflection by allowing you to create a visual representation of your memories, thoughts, and feelings. It can be a therapeutic way to reflect on positive moments, find closure on past experiences, or express gratitude.

Examples:

• Memory scrapbook: Create pages dedicated to your happiest memories, adding photos, quotes, and little mementos that remind you of those moments.

• Gratitude journal: Use a scrapbook format to document things you're grateful for, adding images, drawings, and cut-outs from magazines or old photos.

• Vision board scrapbook: Instead of a traditional vision board, keep a running scrapbook of your goals and dreams, adding to it as new inspirations arise.

Prompt Ideas:

• Create a scrapbook page about something you're proud of—whether it's a major life accomplishment or a small personal win.

• Make a page that represents your ideal day. What would it look like, and how would it make you feel?

• Put together a collage of things that make you feel comforted or joyful, using textures, colors, and images that evoke those feelings.

3. Writing: Telling Your Story to Heal and Reflect

Writing is a powerful tool for mental health, helping you organize your thoughts and process emotions. Journaling, poetry, and storytelling all provide ways to express your inner world and gain clarity on what you’re feeling. The act of writing can also create a sense of release, as you let go of pent-up thoughts and emotions.

Examples:

• Stream of consciousness writing: Write without editing or censoring yourself, allowing thoughts to flow freely. This is a great way to release mental clutter and understand your subconscious.

• Gratitude journaling: Each day, write down a few things you're grateful for. This simple practice has been shown to boost mood and promote positivity.

• Poetry: Writing poetry allows you to channel emotions in a creative and metaphorical way, often leading to new insights about your feelings.

Prompt Ideas:

• Write a letter to your future self. What do you want to tell yourself a year from now?

• Describe a place or moment that made you feel truly at peace. Include sensory details to bring it to life.

• Write a poem that expresses how you’re feeling right now without directly naming the emotion.

4. Photography: Capturing Beauty to Inspire Positivity

Photography encourages mindfulness by focusing your attention on the present moment. When you're behind the camera, you're not just snapping photos—you’re looking for beauty, light, and meaning in the world around you. Photography can help shift your mindset by encouraging you to see things from a new perspective, literally and figuratively.

Examples:

• Nature photography: Spending time outdoors and capturing the beauty of nature can reduce stress and boost mental clarity. Focus on the small details—like the light filtering through the trees or a single flower in bloom.

• Self-portraiture: Explore your own emotions through self-portraits. This can be a vulnerable and healing way to express your inner world visually.

• Mindful photography: Take a walk and use your camera to capture things you may not have noticed before—textures, colors, or the way shadows fall.

Prompt Ideas:

• Take photos of things that represent peace and serenity to you.

• Create a series of photos that capture a specific emotion—like joy, sadness, or calm—without using people’s faces.

• Document a day in your life through a photo series, capturing the moments that bring you joy or calmness.

5. Making Music: A Soundtrack for Emotional Expression

Creating music is another deeply emotional and personal form of art. Whether you play an instrument, sing, or simply enjoy making beats on your computer, music has the ability to change your mood, provide an outlet for emotion, and even alter your brain chemistry in positive ways.

Examples:

• Improvisation: Let yourself play or sing without planning, allowing the music to reflect your current mood or emotions.

• Songwriting: Write lyrics about your experiences or feelings. Songwriting is a creative outlet that can help process emotions.

• Soundscapes: Create ambient music or soundscapes that are calming, uplifting, or reflective of your emotions. Even basic apps can help you layer sounds and create atmospheric music.

Prompt Ideas:

• Create a playlist of songs that reflect how you feel today, or compose a short melody that captures your mood.

• Write a song about a difficult emotion you're trying to process, like anxiety or sadness. Focus on translating your feelings into sound and lyrics.

• Experiment with creating a calming soundscape using soft instruments or natural sounds like ocean waves or birdsong.

My Example:

Feel free to save this to your Spotify!

Final Thoughts

Art in its many forms—drawing, scrapbooking, writing, photography, and music—offers a meaningful way to manage mental health. Each creative outlet provides a space to express feelings, reflect on your experiences, and shift your perspective in a positive direction. By making creativity a regular practice, you can find joy, peace, and emotional healing in the simple act of creating.

Take the first step today. Whether you’re drawing your emotions, writing a poem, or capturing beauty through a camera lens, there’s no right or wrong way to use art for mental health. Let your creativity flow and see where it takes you.