‘Art at Safe Homes’: A pioneer study among COVID-19 patients and their treatment team
What is it about?
BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected mental health all over the world. The resilience of people is heavily influenced by it. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the usage of artistic engagement to overcome stress or anxiety of COVID-19 patients and the treatment team. METHODS: The study was carried out at two safe homes for COVID-19 care in Kolkata, India. Different art and performance activities were implemented like drawing, theatre, poetry and music. All total 42 participants (24 patients and 18 treatment team) participated at the venture. RESULTS: The study found isolation and fear of death as the most affecting factors for stress, and anxiety. Drawing therapy proved to be most suitable form for COVID-19 patients followed by music, theatre and poetry 66.67%, 57.14%, 21.43% and 7.14% respectively. The group art created by the participants depicted hope and care for next generation. Issues related to disease were the major focus of participants than socio-political issues with regard to forum theatre session. Almost every patient expressed their relief from stress by crying signifying the release from a high alert tension. The experience was the first time for the participants and almost 90% of them stated to have such kind of artistic engagement in future also. CONCLUSION: This was perhaps the pioneer study of artistic engagement in COVID-19 patients as a tool to enhance resilience. From the humanitarian and scientific approach COVID-19 patients and treatment team should also come under the umbrella of Art Therapy.
Why is it important?
This was perhaps the pioneer study of artistic engagement in COVID-19 patients as a tool to enhance resilience. From the humanThis was perhaps a pioneer attempt to promote art therapy in case of COVID-19 patients and the treatment team associated to them. During last almost two years COVID-19 caused isolation from the society and fear of death which placed people in front of existential crisis. During existential crisis people remain oriented to their own crisis, the crisis of existence. Additionally, people involved in occupation of treatment of COVID-19 faced severe burnout and stress [64, 65]. Therefore social, economic or political issues were not in primary focus. In fact the ability to think critically is lost or hindered at least in such crisis. Such a situation not only causes sluggishness at individual level but the whole human race and humanity face unproductivity and stagnation or in extreme cases selfishness. But at the same time several reports of noble altruistic stances were reported at these perilous times as a sign of humanity. This study thus again pointed to the eternal fact that only human being can save humanity and restore the resilience power if it is called in a broader sense also. In this situation creativity can increase resilience and help people psychologically empowered to fight against any disaster. Such creativity can only be supplemented through artistic engagement. Moreover in the present study group work was observed to be most accepted than individual effort. Group work provides the platform for discussion i.e. interaction among each other which actually was restricted in isolation due to COVID-19. Therefore when people found a channel for interaction and discussion, they instantly accepted the route and participated accordingly. So now the time comes when everybody should provide channel of discussion and creativity to everybody. This is the need of humanity and need of time. On the basis of present work the following is recommended: 1. Art therapy is equally applicable to COVID-19 like other diseases. 2. Each hospital or safe home should arrange such programmes at least twice a week.