Story by Farai Gwaze
THE arts have been described as an effective tool to deal with issues of mental health and wellness, with stakeholders urging for its adoption as a mitigation strategy.
Students, artists and stakeholders who met for the SASA festival at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare this Friday, have acknowledged the usefulness of the arts in addressing issues of mental health.
“As a representative of Generation Z, we encounter many mental health challenges such as anxiety. At times you can have a negative mind and refresh it with something that clicks in your mind,” a student said.
“As creatives, we are saying, you do not only have to go for counselling, you can experience art therapy. Art therapy involves visual arts, poetry, basically putting your feelings on paper,” a poet, Gamuchirai Shonhai stated.
Government is committed to finding ways of using the arts to entice behavioural change.
“We have been using the arts for developmental programmes, you talk of campaigns against HIV, drug abuse and everything related to mental health. So the arts as therapy can also be an effective tool for enticing behaviour change amongst people,” National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Representative Mr William Ndinde said.
As the conversation around mental health continues to grow, it is clear that the arts will play a vital role in promoting wellness and driving positive change.
