‘Painting a path to wellness’: correlations between participating in a creative activity group and improved measured mental health outcome

Accessible summary Despite the long‐standing popularity of creative activity groups with mental health patients, there has been a lack of measurement evidencing a positive relationship between participation in such groups and improved mental health. This study used de‐identified hospital records covering the period 2004–2009 to chart measured mental health outcomes for 403 patients attending a creative activity group in an acute inpatient psychiatric setting. Four different clinical assessment tools were used to measure changes in mental health from admission to discharge for participants of the creative activity group. Research findings establish that participation in creative activity positively correlates with improved mental health. In the context of this research project, the term ‘creative activity’ includes participation in art, craft or expressive art‐based activity. Abstract Responding to a call for quantitative outcome evidence about the therapeutic relationship between creative activity and mental health, this study examined the mental health outcomes of inpatients participating in art‐ and craft‐based creative therapies at a private psychiatric hospital over a 5‐year period. The creative activity group sample ( n = 403) improved from admission to discharge across four different psychometric measures with moderate to strong mean effect sizes. Reductions from pre‐ to post‐treatment in both self‐reported and clinician‐rated symptoms are clearly demonstrated for the creative activity group participant sample. Research findings establish that participation in creative activity has potential benefits for people experiencing mental health problems.