BLACK-ARTS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BLACK racial minority young people with Psychiatric Disorders utilizing creative ARTS therapies (BLACK-ARTS): A qualitative study exploring the insights of Black racial minority young people with psychiatric disorders and the uses of creative arts therapies as potential tools for improving mental well-being
IRAS ID
329612
Contact name
Morten Kringelbach
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
In the UK, racial and ethnic minority groups, specifically Black racial minority groups, have higher rates of common mental disorders and severe mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia in comparison to their White counterparts and poorer mental health outcomes. and service outcomes.
In recent years, the literature has identified a need for culturally competent mental health treatments for racial minority groups and tailored interventions to address their unique needs and improve mental health outcomes.
Creative Arts Therapies (CATs), which include music, dance, visual arts, and drama, have been shown to improve upon a multitude of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Black racial minority groups, specifically African and Caribbean cultures, play a large role in daily life and have become important mediums for maintaining contact with their home countries.
This study seeks to address if creative arts therapies can be utilized for Black racial minority young people as culturally informed mental health interventions. The current study will involve a series of focus groups with 24 Black racial minority patients aged 16-24 within NHS care and 24 clinicians working with these individuals.
The current study aims to investigate the attitudes and opinions of Black racial minority young people, and clinicians on the use of CATs for the improvement of mental-wellbeing and potentially culturally competent treatment options for this population. We aim to understand how to improve mental health services for Black racial minority young people and explore if creative arts therapies can be a helpful intervention that is culturally relevant for this population.
Lay summary of study results: Black young people in the UK experience ongoing inequalities in mental health care, including difficulties accessing support, feeling misunderstood by services, and receiving care that does not always feel culturally relevant. This study explored whether creative arts therapies—such as music, art, dance, and drama therapy—might help address some of these challenges.
We spoke with 35 Black young people aged 16–24 who were using or waiting for NHS mental health services, as well as NHS clinicians working with them, across five NHS Trusts in England. Participants took part in group discussions where they shared their experiences of mental health care and their views on creative arts therapies. Five key themes emerged from these conversations.
Creative arts as tools for emotional expression and healing Young people described creative activities as powerful ways to express feelings that were hard to put into words. Music, drawing, dancing, and movement helped them calm anxiety, release stress, and make sense of difficult emotions. Many felt that creative approaches gave them more control over how they expressed themselves and allowed them to engage with therapy at their own pace.
Challenges and barriers to using creative arts therapies Although most participants were positive about creative arts therapies, they also described barriers to accessing them. Clinicians highlighted limited funding, a shortage of trained creative arts therapists, and the fact that these therapies are often seen as less important than talking therapies within the NHS. Some young people shared personal concerns, such as feeling shy, worrying about being judged, or feeling unsure about trying creative activities in group settings.
Disconnection and mistrust within mental health services Many young people described feeling disconnected from traditional talking therapies. Some felt that therapy sessions were impersonal, repetitive, or did not fully reflect their lived experiences as Black young people. Past negative experiences with mental health services, including entering care through crisis situations, sometimes made it harder to trust clinicians or feel safe opening up.
Using creativity outside of therapy to cope with mental health difficulties Even when young people had not accessed formal creative arts therapy, all described using creative activities in their daily lives to cope with distress. Singing, listening to music, dancing, and creative hobbies were commonly used as ways to manage emotions, especially while waiting for NHS support. Clinicians recognised this as an important strength that could be built upon within therapy.
Creative expression as a link between culture and care Participants strongly felt that creative arts therapies reflected important parts of Black culture and identity. Music, art, and dance were described as culturally familiar, meaningful, and connected to family, community, and heritage. Many young people felt that using creativity in therapy could help them feel more understood and less pressured to explain cultural experiences to clinicians. Clinicians also felt that being more culturally aware and open to creative approaches could improve trust and relationships with young people.
Overall conclusions
Overall, this study suggests that creative arts therapies may offer a more culturally relevant and emotionally accessible form of mental health support for Black young people. While these therapies cannot solve all problems within mental health services, improving access to creative arts therapies within the NHS could help increase engagement, build trust, and reduce inequalities in mental health care.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/WM/0208
Date of REC Opinion
17 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion