2024 | Tasha L. Golden, Richard W. Ordway, Susan Magsamen, Aanchal Mohanty, Yifan Chen and T.W. Cherry Ng
The global youth mental health crisis is a pressing issue, with significant impacts on children and adolescents worldwide. This article highlights the potential of arts and culture-based strategies as effective, accessible, and scalable solutions to support youth mental health. It emphasizes the need for research and the translation of findings into community practices. Four key steps are proposed: elevating youth voice, developing core outcome measures, identifying successful global models, and creating clear funding pathways. The article notes that arts and culture are not only beneficial for mental health but also play a role in social connections and reducing stigma. Evidence shows that arts-based interventions can improve mental health, promote well-being, and enhance resilience. However, there are gaps in understanding the effects of these strategies and the need for more research. The article calls for a global effort to integrate arts and culture into mental health initiatives, ensuring that diverse communities benefit from these approaches. It also stresses the importance of culturally relevant and community-centered practices in addressing youth mental health challenges. The article concludes that arts and culture-based strategies offer a promising path to support youth mental health globally.The global youth mental health crisis is a pressing issue, with significant impacts on children and adolescents worldwide. This article highlights the potential of arts and culture-based strategies as effective, accessible, and scalable solutions to support youth mental health. It emphasizes the need for research and the translation of findings into community practices. Four key steps are proposed: elevating youth voice, developing core outcome measures, identifying successful global models, and creating clear funding pathways. The article notes that arts and culture are not only beneficial for mental health but also play a role in social connections and reducing stigma. Evidence shows that arts-based interventions can improve mental health, promote well-being, and enhance resilience. However, there are gaps in understanding the effects of these strategies and the need for more research. The article calls for a global effort to integrate arts and culture into mental health initiatives, ensuring that diverse communities benefit from these approaches. It also stresses the importance of culturally relevant and community-centered practices in addressing youth mental health challenges. The article concludes that arts and culture-based strategies offer a promising path to support youth mental health globally.