Mental Health Awareness Week: Art and Anxiety

For this year’s Mental Health Awareness week (15th-21st May) the theme is anxiety. It comes as little surprise in the midst of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, which has undoubtedly generated a sense of financial insecurity amongst most of us. In a recent survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation, a staggering 73% respondents said they had experienced anxiety in the past two weeks, with 20% answering that they felt anxious ‘all of the time’.

Anxiety refers to the natural feeling of fear or unease that we may experience when faced with stressful situations. In many cases it’s perfectly normal but it can become a serious issue when it affects our ability to perform everyday tasks. Anxiety might manifest physically as a lack of sleep, headaches, teeth-grinding or being unable to focus, as well as many other symptoms that are bad for our physical as well as our mental health. 

The Challenges of Leaving Care, mapped out by a member of Element’s Creative Community


Although there has been a steady growth of research into the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced young people, the intersecting barriers this group face needs to be addressed in the current climate. Young people aged 16-24 years living in the capital currently are hit hardest by unaffordable housing, rising living costs and an overly competitive job-market; and as a care-experienced young person (despite statutory guidance that local authorities should provide emotional as well as practical support) it is not specified what emotional support should be available, and many young people are underserved as a result. For more on this see the Children’s Social Care’s recent report.

Artwork produced by a member of Element’s Creative Community

Element’s creative community tells us that some of the key anxieties they face include housing and accommodation, safety and security, relationships, money and loneliness. Unfortunately there is an underlying stigma attached to being in care and low expectations of individuals to achieve their goals.. This stigma is too-often internalised into negative feelings that require closer examination in a nurturing and supportive environment.

This is precisely where Element steps in. Our arts programmes offer young people opportunities to take a closer look within and produce art in response. The connection between creative arts and mental wellbeing has long been recognised and it’s even prescribed as a remedy for feelings of anxiety and stress today. Just looking closely at a work of art can release powerful neurotransmitters that make us feel happier. 

At Element, we can confidently assert that our arts projects boost individual wellbeing by allowing individuals who participate to:

  • Join a community of people who have had a shared or similar experience

  • Talk openly and safely about aspects of identity

  • Have access to quality art materials and try exciting new art forms (such as marbling, screen printing, stained glass art and more!)

  • Express themselves creatively with the help of Element guided sessions and encouraging facilitators

  •  Create a body of artwork that they can feel proud of, show to others and keep forever

  • Form meaningful friendships along the way!

But don’t just take our word for it. Have a read of these comments made by Element Young Creatives who have completed our programme recently…

“I don’t like going outside and meeting new people so I found doing art relieves my stress. For the final show I had to be around people I didn’t know” 

“Trying different art forms made me feel more open about what I can do”

“I didn’t have big questions about my identity, I already knew who I was but with Element it was the first time I thought about other ‘elements’ of who I am.”

Self-care is also a really important theme in our programme. One of our sessions asks young people to explain how they take care of themselves through the medium of screen printing or zine-making, and in turn provides a space in which individuals can share advice on how to overcome feelings of anxiety.

Screen prints produced by school students exploring the question: How do you relax and take care of yourself?

So, to mark this Mental Health Awareness week, why not pick up a pencil, a pen, a brush - or whatever material is most accessible to you. Draw something, anything! Just give in to that creative expression, and see if it offers some calm, rest, and creative thinking into your self.

For more information and guidance on Mental Health Awareness week, head to the MHF’s website, Mind UK, Kooth or NHS

Halima Nessa