Those who engage in creative activities report better mental health

A poll found that people who engage in creative activities are more likely to report better mental health, according to a press release from the American Psychiatric Association.

According to July’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, which surveyed 2,202 adults from June 15 to June 18, 46% of Americans use creative activities to review stress or anxiety, and those who rate their mental health as very good or excellent are more likely to engage in creative activity more often than those who rate their mental health as fair or poor.

“We live in stressful times, and sometimes our jobs and responsibilities can drain our energy and our mental health,” APA President Petros Levounis, MD, said in the press release. “Creative activities aren’t just for fun, they can help us take a step back from the daily grind, use our brains differently, and relax. Picking up that paintbrush or solving a tricky puzzle can truly move us to a different mindset.”

Respondents listed the following activities they used to relieve stress or anxiety:

• 77% said listening to music;
• 39% said solving puzzles;
• 25% said singing or dancing;
• 24% said drawing, painting or sculpting;
• 19% said crafting;
• and 16% said creative writing.

“When we think about positive actions that boost our mental health, creative pastimes are along the lines of talking to friends, walking in nature, and exercising, among other good options,” said APA CEO and medical director Saul Levin, MD, MPA. “APA is pleased to call attention to these positive actions as part of the public discussion on mental health.”