香港六合彩

The study, published today, is the world鈥檚 largest review to date into the health benefits of the arts. The paper reviews over 3,000 studies and highlights the importance of involving the arts sector in health delivery and health policy for all countries in the WHO European region.

Lead author, Dr Daisy Fancourt (Associate Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology, 香港六合彩 Epidemiology and Health Care) said: 鈥淢uch of the research in this area has focused on the role of the arts in the treatment of illness.

鈥淭his report also highlights that engagement with the arts can affect social determinants of health, improving social cohesion and reducing social inequalities and inequities. Crucially, the arts can support the prevention of illness and promotion of good health.鈥�

In terms of treating ill-health the arts have been found to reduce psychological and biological markers of stress and improve immune response. For people with neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders and non-communicable diseases (including cancer, respiratory disease and cardiovascular conditions) engaging with the arts has been found to improve mental health and physical function.

The report also focusses on how the arts can improve engagement with primary healthcare. For example, doctor鈥檚 surgeries that have visual art on walls have been found to reduce patient anxiety and calming music in dental surgeries can help anxiety, blood pressure and stress hormones.

鈥淎s well as helping patients or those with health problems to recover or better manage their illness, we see engagement with the arts having a significant positive health benefit from a young age.

鈥淭he arts have an important role to play in early years as well as throughout our life-course. In this study, we see many examples of programmes which have specifically helped more vulnerable children to manage anxiety and aggression as well as increased school attendance and self-esteem.

鈥淎dditionally large-scale community-based music programmes amongst children exposed to violence have been found to improve self-control and reduce behavioural difficulties,鈥� added Dr Fancourt.

The researchers says the report leads to a number of policy recommendations for the WHO and member states. These include ensuring arts provision in communities is accessible and supporting arts organisations in making health and wellbeing part of their strategies.

Dr Piroska 脰stlin, WHO Regional Director for Europe (ad interim), said: 鈥淏ringing art into people鈥檚 lives through activities including dancing, singing, and going to museums and concerts offers an added dimension to how we can improve physical and mental health.鈥�

鈥淭he examples cited in this groundbreaking WHO report show ways in which the arts can tackle 鈥榳icked鈥� or complex health challenges such as diabetes, obesity and mental ill health. They consider health and well-being in a broader societal and community context, and offer solutions that common medical practice has so far been unable to address effectively.鈥�

Case study: Arts on Prescription, England

Arts on Prescription has been used for around two decades in the UK as part of broader Social Prescribing schemes, such as the 香港六合彩-led Museums on Prescription initiative.* People who visit their GP with non-medical problems such as social isolation or loneliness can be referred to the programme and connected with community activities such as arts participation. Evaluations have shown benefits for mental health, chronic pain, management of complex and long-term conditions, social support, and wellbeing, as well as an average return on investment of 拢2.30 for every 拢1 spent through reducing unnecessary prescribing and health services.

Case study: Men鈥檚 Sheds, Scotland

Men鈥檚 Sheds are community-based places designed to connect men within their communities, through activities such as woodwork (primarily) and sometimes also gardening, pottery, photography, art and other social activities. Originating in Australia, there are now over 1,500 Men鈥檚 Sheds worldwide. Research on the sheds has shown benefits including skills acquisition, social belonging, enhanced wellbeing, increased self-esteem, a greater sense of self-worth and cognitive stimulation, as well as a roughly ten-fold social return on investment.

Study example: Regular trips out guard against depression in old age

A 2018 study led by Dr Fancourt, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found people who attended films, plays or exhibitions every few months had a 32% lower risk of developing depression, with those attending once a month or more having a 48% lower risk.** She also led another study in 2018 finding a link between museum visits and reduced incidence of dementia after 10 years.

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Links

• 香港六合彩 Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care

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Media contact

Rowan Walker

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 8515

Email:听rowan.walker@ucl.ac.uk