Art appreciation for veterans with severe mental illness in a VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center

Abstract

Considerable research has shown the positive effects of art, music and drama therapy on mental health and well-being. In September 2012, a weekly Art Appreciation class was initiated at the Veterans Affairs (VA) West Los Angeles (WLA) Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) for veterans with severe mental illness. There are 106 VA PRRCs throughout the USA, designed to be transitional learning centers with curriculum-based interventions to help veterans re-integrate into the community and develop meaningful activities independent of the hospital setting. The VA WLA PRRC Art Appreciation class includes classroom sessions and community outings to local museums and other institutions holding art works of interest. It is taught at a college level and designed to lack the stigma of being a therapy group. Preliminary evidence from self-report measures indicates positive effects on mood, self-esteem, socialization and community participation among the veteran participants and recognition among staff that the course aids the veterans' recovery process. Appreciating art thus appears to promote both subjective and objective improvement in recovery and community re-integration for veterans who are experiencing chronic and disabling emotional distress.

Keywords::

• veterans
• mental health
• art appreciation

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the veterans and staff of the WLA PRRC who have contributed to the success of the Art Appreciation class.

Disclosure statement

None of the authors has any financial or other conflict of interest with respect to this work.