Culturally sensitive art therapy: The development of an ETC-Based intervention for depression amidst malaysian stigma

Depression is a significant mental health challenge in Malaysia, yet limited and often outdated interventions persist. The profound social stigma surrounding depression and conservative cultural norms in many Asian societies frequently hinder open dialogue and help-seeking. Recognizing this urgent need for culturally appropriate alternatives, this paper proposes a novel intervention for individuals with depressive symptoms in Malaysia, centered on expressive art therapy. Expressive art therapy is considered less confrontational and emotionally provoking, making it a potentially suitable approach for Asian populations. This intervention draws upon the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC), a framework positing that different expressive activities engage distinct visual information processing levels. Intriguingly, a theoretical alignment was identified between depressive symptoms measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and ETC components: cognitive depressive symptoms with the Cognitive ETC, affective depressive symptoms with the Affective ETC, and somatic depressive symptoms with the Sensory ETC. This compelling replication suggests a powerful potential for integration. Therefore, this paper introduces a new ETC-based intervention designed to be culturally sensitive and accessible, offering a more effective therapeutic pathway for individuals experiencing depression in Asia