Creativity and Calm: How Music and Art Support Young People's Mental Health

Creativity and Calm: How Music and Art Support Young People's Mental Health

Mental health challenges among young people in the UK are rising at an alarming rate, with 1 in 5 children aged 5 to 16 dealing with mental health challenges.

As families and educators consider different ways to support young people's well-being, music and art can offer valuable and enriching experiences. These creative activities can often help with emotional expression, stress relief, and building confidence.

A unique, peer-led creative research programme, commissioned by Arts Council England, found that increased access to creative activities and spaces can support better mental health and wellbeing.¹ Additionally, the research highlighted a need for young people to have a say in how mental health services are developed and delivered.

The results were presented at Arts Council England’s National Engagement and Communities Conference in April, where young people called for consistent, person-centred access to the arts and creative activities to be a core approach within mental health support.

The Mental Health Benefits of Music

Emerging literature on music and its influence on young people’s wellbeing is advancing our understanding of music’s impact on their social, emotional, and mental health. Studies have found that group singing offers developmental and behavioural benefits and supports wellbeing through experiences of social connectedness and confidence, provides emotional regulation and improved self-esteem, and positively affects wellbeing.²

Arts Council England and Youth Music have long championed the role of music in supporting young people's mental health. Music benefits our wellbeing by:

• Reducing stress and anxiety: Participating in music-making has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation.
• Improving emotional regulation: Music activates brain regions tied to emotion and memory, helping young people to process and manage their feelings.
• Fostering social connection: Group music activities, such as choirs or bands, promote teamwork and a sense of belonging.

A major UK research programme supported by Arts Council England found that creative engagement, especially through music, helped young people feel more in control of their emotions and more connected to others.³  

The Mental Health Benefits of Art

Getting involved with the arts can have powerful and lasting effects on health. It can help to protect against a range of mental health conditions, help manage mental ill-health and support recovery through creativity - helping people express themselves without having to use words.³

Visual and performing arts offer a safe, non-verbal way for young people to explore and express their inner world by:

• Encouraging self-expression: Art helps children communicate emotions they may not yet have the words for.
• Promoting mindfulness: Activities like drawing or painting can induce a calming, meditative state.
• Building confidence: Completing an art project gives a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-esteem.

The Mental Health Foundation UK reports that engaging in the arts can help protect against a range of mental health conditions, support recovery, and reduce feelings of isolation.⁴ 

Music and art are powerful tools for emotional growth and healing. By encouraging creativity, we give young people a way to understand themselves, connect with others, and navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and calm.

WIN £10,000 to support your pupils’ mental health and wellbeing

Howden’s Pupils Wellbeing competition gives schools the opportunity to win up to £10,000 to provide funding to support their young people’s mental health and wellbeing through activities like art and music, wellbeing or mindfulness activities or experiences. It’s easy to enter, but the competition closes on 18 July.

Find out more

About Howden

With 60 years’ experience providing bespoke solutions for the education community, Howden’s specialist education division has a lifetime’s experience supporting the education community and young people through their academic life. We currently support more than one million young people with their mental health and wellbeing through their school, college, university, or accommodation provider.

Find out more about our wellbeing services. Call 0333 234 1198 or email [email protected].

¹  Major research programme highlights creativity is at the heart of young people’s mental health and wellbeing | Arts Council England
²  The effects of group singing on the wellbeing and psychosocial outcomes of children and young people: a systematic integrative review: Arts & Health: Vol 13 , No 3 - Get Access
³ Arts Council England – Creativity at the Heart of Young People’s Mental Health
⁴ Mental Health Foundation – How Arts Can Help Improve Your Mental Health