Feeling Depressed? Art Could Be the Perfect Prescription

New British study reinforces the power of immersing yourself in culture*

Photo by Jeff Hayward

When was the last time you were at a museum or an art gallery? Just quietly wandering around, taking the time to observe all the displays in relative peace?

If it has been a while, then you might want to consider paying your local gallery a visit. Especially during these crazy times of unrest, where there’s a lot of noise filling our heads. I don’t think I need to elaborate on that.

Doing so can help you learn more about art history, and the significance of artifacts in our human timeline (even nsfw sculptures.) But there’s a bonus that you might not be aware of—looking at art can actually make you feel happier.

At least according to a study published recently in the The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Here’s a quick synopsis of what the study tells us: going to a cultural event just once a month—whether it’s a museum, a movie, or a live show, can cut your risk of depression by almost 50%. Even going once every few months still offers a significant risk reduction.

That’s apparently because our brain releases feel-good hormones from the stimulation of examining creative works. Wandering a museum also offers low-impact exercise and the opportunity for social interaction, both which can counter feelings of sadness and loneliness.

The recent study reportedly accounted for lifestyles and income, and still had the same outcomes. That means that while wealthy people may have more opportunities to experience culture, folks of modest means will get the same mental benefits.

On that note, while some live shows and cultural events might cost a pretty penny, admission to a city-run museum is often quite affordable. For example, the admission to the biggest art gallery in my city is $15 for an adult. That’s a pretty reasonable fee for around 75,000 square feet of art that will take several hours to explore.

Hopping off the treadmill

We currently live in a capitalist hellscape that screams at us to make more money, buy the newest gadgets, and comply with the accepted norms. The routines of working and family life can be grounding for some people, but it can also be incredibly mundane.

Aside from binge-watching films on Netflix, a lot of people don’t take the time to appreciate art and culture. However, there are arguments that art is an important part of our overall well-being. For example, art therapy has been accepted as a possible treatment for depressed patients, and the recent study reinforces this.

I can personally attest to the power of art. Depression can actually hold me prisoner some days — especially in winter when it’s expected to feel like -30C in Ontario today. But when I do get out to a live show or a gallery, or simply wander around the city with my camera, I usually get a mood boost.

If I don’t feel up to facing the outside world, I write about it. Writing also helps me get “into the zone” while I learn new things through research. Writing and making art can provide fulfillment that separates us from the machines, which only mimic what humans dream up.

Seeing art gives our brains permission to go off-course, if only momentarily. The pressures of daily life disappear during that time, and we’re reminded that humanity is more than just commuting and responsibilities.

Art reminds us we are emotional beings capable of abstract thoughts, which can be beautiful, but can also shock us awake from our auto-pilot mode.

In other words, art can be like a prescription drug that helps our brain release dopamine and serotonin, two key neurotransmitters in regulating mood. In fact, art therapy can enhance the benefits of antidepressant medications. Additionally, making art has been shown to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone.

It can also give us a break from a constant barrage of bad news, and make us forget about our own problems.

And if you think art and business don’t mix, consider this: art inspires us to think more creatively, which can also help us think “outside the box” in the corporate world.

So, if you’ve got a bad case of the winter blues, or you’re in a fetal position from watching the news, you might just need a healthy dose of culture.

We already knew that being in nature was good for mental health, so if you can combine the two outings somehow, even better.

At the least, you can observe plants and animals amongst the snowy outdoors, which is nature’s own art gallery. Just make sure you don’t freeze to death in the process.

* We apologize for the break from “funny” content. But we thought you needed this today.