Download Analyzing Mental Health in the Arts

Undergraduate
Category: Humanities and Arts
Degree Level: Bachelor’s
Abstract ID#1459
Analyzing Mental Health in the Arts
Noelle Castilla-Ojo, Joy Horng, Celeste LaHaie, Olivia Macrorie, & Kevin Narang*, & Maureen Kelleher
+
First five authors contributed equally*, Primary investigator+
Abstract
Mental health is an integral part of the human experience. One in four people suffer
from a diagnosable mental disorder. Furthermore, mental health is largely
stigmatized and a dialogue must be opened in order to remedy such. Several facets
exist from which mental health can be understood. Art is an innovative way where
mental health can be viewed away from a traditional classroom setting. It provides
common themes of social class, gender, and race that change throughout history.
These themes can be used by researchers and the general public alike to gain insight
into mental health from a unique perspective. Eight randomized groups were set
with the task to select a piece of art at the Museum of Fine Arts. Students used the
art piece along with previously noted themes to derive a sociological understanding.
Subsequently, the sociological analysis was used to impose a mental health
evaluation. Individual reportings were brought together to perform a crosscomparison study. The context of all factors contributing to mental health were
relevant to comprehend each art piece. Students found that the process of analyzing
the artwork from a mental health standpoint provided a medium for empathy,
removal of stigma, and therapy.
Goals
Methods
1) To facilitate open discussion of mental health using art
2) To address stigma associated with mental health
3) To look at the effects of Art-Based research on student
perspectives
Eight groups of one to three students visited the Museum of Fine
Arts in Boston, MA. These students had been discussing mental
health topics from a sociological perspective in class. Equipped with
this knowledge, each group selected a piece of artwork and reported
the sociological elements in the art work and its background.
Results
This finding relates to traditional classroom study, focusing
more on the symptoms and treatment of illness as definition,
which may propagate one-dimensionality and ensue negative
stereotypes of the mentally ill. But, after situating the artwork in
the context of the time, both word type and frequency increased
(Graph 1). The variability of word type shows a comprehensive
A mental illness can be defined as, “a condition that impacts a person's thinking,
feeling or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a
analysis rooted in numerous perspectives. While the general
daily basis.” (1). According to a 2012 survey by the National Alliance on Mental
increase in frequency of some categories, for example treatment
Illness, 27% of college student survey responders were diagnosed with depression,
options, implies an uncertainty of outcome which is characteristic
24% with bipolar, and 11% with an anxiety disorder (2). Fear of stigma can be a
of multifaceted situations.
Analysis
of
our
experiment
relied
on
the
types
of
vocabulary
major hurdle for people diagnosed with a mental illness (3). As a result, people
Lastly,
as
the
number
of
factors
being
considered
increased
in
students
used,
given
a
lack
of
mental
health
data
specific
to
our
set-up.
diagnosed with a mental illness may avoid social interactions, be non-compliant with
the final reaction, as did the number of emotion-words. Data
Our body of data includes an initial and final assessment of eight
treatment, or develop depressive symptoms (3). On a college campus, students
suggests that by participating in the study students gained an
recently diagnosed with a mental illness may be living with decreased qualities of
paintings from randomized groups of students.
lives or not receiving the treatment they need. Promoting empathy and awareness
After making sure all the students were performing this task from a understanding of how people with mental illness think and feel,
amongst college students could potentially help students with mental illness
likely out of the ability to relate on a personal level. However, it
sociological perspective (Figure 1), the words in the initial and final
increase their quality of life, seek treatment, or continue treatment.
assessments were coded into categories, and their average frequencies cannot be stated that all students became more empathic, as
Arts-Based Research is a tool that allows audiences, from academic and nonempathy is difficult to measure and prove. It is also recognized
from the final reactions were depicted in Graph 1. In the initial
academic backgrounds, to approach a subject in a unique, non-verbal way (4). Artsthat the word frequency is subject to variability from differences
assessment
of
the
paintings,
where
a
mental
illness
was
imposed
on
Based Research has been shown to promote empathy (4). Using participants as both
in text length, vocabulary, and writing style. This exercise was an
the subject with only visual context, students analyzed the painting
data collectors and subjects of the study, Art-Based Research allows for both
initial exploratory step into alternative methods to learn and
briefly using words limited to diagnostic lexis. Other categories of
participants and researchers to gain valuable information (4). It was hypothesized
apply mental illness concepts from the lens of sociology. It
that Art-Based Research methodology would promote empathy towards people with words, such as time, place, class and treatment options were mostly
mental illness. It was also hypothesized that the study would increase the awareness absent,perhaps implying these aspects as less vital determinants of
served as a way to open up a dialogue into the complex-nature of
of sociological factors surrounding mental illness and promote empathy towards
mental illness, its perceptions, and ultimately its stigma.
mental health outcomes.
people with mental illness. Lastly it was hypothesized that trends in perception of
mental illness would arise from the students’ analyses of paintings.
Background
References
1. Mental Health Conditions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2016, from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions
2. Gruttadaro, D., & Crudo, D. (2012). College students speak: A survey report on mental health. Survey Report). Arlington, VA: National Alliance on Mental Illness.
3. Bruce G. Link and Jo C. Phelan. Labeling and Stigma. Pp. 571-587. In the Handbook for the Study of Mental Health, edited by T.L. Schied and T.N. Brown.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4. Lawrence, R. (2015) Dancing with the Data: Arts-Based Qualitative Research. Scholarly Publishing and Research Methods.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the students of honors seminar Being
“Crazy” in America, Professor Maureen Kelleher, and the MFA.