The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing, with input from Association of Directors of Public Health, Public Health England and the Royal Society for Public Health, have reported on their study on Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing. In a recent briefing document they confirm the benefits for health that engagement with creative arts brings and detail specific examples:
- For chronic and long term conditions, for example listening to music provides cardiovascular benefits while singing alleviates cystic fibrosis and chronic respiratory conditions;
- Arts participation contributes to obesity reduction;
- Arts-on-prescription programs improve mental health conditions;
- In elder care, physical arts such as dance assists with balance, while visual arts assists with memory, mood and quality of life for dementia patients.
The briefing, and details of how to obtain a copy of the report which includes recommendations on how arts should be supported to help tackle public health challenges, is available at : http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/Briefings/ADPH.pdf
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