‘When I create, I am free and happy’: a mixed-methods study of young people’s experiences of arts engagement and implications for public mental health policy

Perspect Public Health. 2026 Jul 21:17579139261462495. doi: 10.1177/17579139261462495. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Globally, young people face escalating rates of mental health concerns, while traditional services often remain inaccessible. An emerging body of research suggests that participating in the arts, from everyday engagement to creative arts therapies, may benefit youth mental health, yet gaps persist in equitable access and youth perspectives. This research aimed to better understand young people’s definitions of mental health and their perspectives on the role of the arts in supporting their mental health.

METHODS: This mixed-methods international study included an online survey, ups, qualitiative focus groups, dyadic interviews with youth aged 16-25 (N = 8) and poetic inquiry. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively (n = 56), while qualitative data from open survey responses and group discussions underwent Reflexive Thematic Analysis (N = 36). Recruitment prioritized diversity in age, geography, and lived experience, with ethical approval from New York University (NYU).

RESULTS: Survey respondents revealed broad engagement across art forms, especially visual arts, literary arts, and music, as well as creative arts therapies. Arts participation was frequent, with 40% of respondents engaging daily. Among respondents who reported perceived mental health benefits (n = 44), 82% reported improved mood and 80% reported stress-management benefits. A combined 86% of respondents (n = 32/37) viewed youth voice as either very important or extremely important. Eight focus group participants further enriched the qualitative data. They associated mental health with being flexible and adaptable. Thematic analysis revealed core themes across the focus group and survey: the role of the arts in mental health promotion; art for social connection; personal development through the arts; young people believe art is essential; art leads to transformative experiences; and they identified barriers, enablers, and policy recommendations. Youth identified limited access and competitive environments as barriers, while low-barrier modalities, such as music-listening, fostered inclusion.

CONCLUSIONS: Young people across diverse contexts view participating in the arts as essential to mental health and wellbeing, emphasizing that the arts should be embedded in public health and clinical care. They advocate for youth-led, culturally responsive, and multimodal arts initiatives embedded across schools, communities, and healthcare systems. Findings align with WHO youth mental health and country-specific recommendations, calling for greater investment in accessible, youth-driven programming, arts integration, and robust evaluation to capture health and social outcomes. This study reinforces the value of participating in the arts and creative arts therapies as a vital component of youth mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment, offering safe, expressive, and culturally resonant pathways for coping, healing, and thriving.

PMID:42479424 | DOI:10.1177/17579139261462495