CURRENT RESEARCH
My research
- Current data shows that 1 in 6 young people, from 5-16 years, struggle with a probable mental health issue. That is 5 children in every UK classroom1
- Research shows that one third of mental health problems in adulthood are connected to childhood experiences2
- Half of the people with mental health problems in the UK had their first symptom by the age of 143
The Impact of Art Therapy
Early therapeutic intervention in childhood can make a significant impact for young people and their families. Child mental health expert and psychotherapist Dr Margot Sunderland confirms that many mental health issues would be preventable if more children were offered meaningful support.4 Recent evidence shows that access to psychologically informed approaches can vastly improve a child’s mental health outcomes.5
In today’s world, many children and young people struggle with their mental and emotional health. Below are some shocking statistics showing how much suffering is present in our UK population:
In recent years, a growing body of research has supported the use of Art Psychotherapy with children and young people:
- Art Psychotherapy is more likely to support young people than traditional talking-therapies6
- Art Psychotherapy is effective in improving children’s quality of life; anxiety; problem-solving skills; attitudes towards school; emotional and behavioural difficulties7
- Art therapy has been claimed to have positive calming, restorative and balancing effects on young participants8
- Art Psychotherapy can provide a space for children to work through and process fears, traumas and difficulties9
At Many Chapters, we strongly believe that with the support of an experienced Art Psychotherapist, improvements in mental wellbeing, emotional resilience and self-esteem can be achieved. By providing creative therapies early in a child’s life journey, we hope to prevent future mental health illnesses and support families to find brighter chapters.
- 1 NHS, Mental Health Children & Young People Survey, 2021
- 2 NHS, Mental Health Children & Young People Survey, 2021
- 3 HMG/DoH, No Health Without Mental Health, 2011
- 4 Sunderland, M., Conversations that Matter: Talking with Children and Teenagers in Ways That Can Help, 2015
- 5 NHS, Mental Health Children & Young People Survey, 2021
- 6 Ahmed, M., Braito, A., Buyutaskin, D., Glancy, C., Mulligan, A., & Rudd, T., Review: systematic review of effectiveness of art psychotherapy in children with mental health disorders, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2022
- 7 Moula, Z., A systematic review of the effectiveness of art therapy delivered in school-based settings to children aged 5–12 years, International Journal of Art Therapy, 2019
- 8 Peeran, A., Ponomarenko, A., & Yap, J., Investigating the Efficacy of Art and Music Therapy with Vulnerable Children and Young People: A Systematic Review, 2017
- 9 Ahmed, M., Braito, A., Buyutaskin, D., Glancy, C., Mulligan, A., & Rudd, T., Review: systematic review of effectiveness of art psychotherapy in children with mental health disorders, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2022
