As hospital waiting lists get longer and the cost of living continues to rise, a free community-led arts program is being praised for improving people's wellbeing and keeping them out of the health system.
For the past six months about 50 people in Mandurah, south of Perth, have been learning new skills including pottery, mosaics and painting during free weekly Creative Café workshops run by the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
Some of the participants were referred to the sessions by GPs and medical professionals.
For Kristina French, the classes were a life-changing experience.
She attended the workshops after they were recommended to her by an occupational therapist.
"It's been a journey … many years of seeing psychiatrists and psychologists, getting on medication and all that," Ms French said.
"But once I got there it was a really relaxed atmosphere, you get to eat, have a coffee and sit down to do some art.
"And it was free, which was a huge thing for me."
She said her anxiety and depression went largely undetected as a child in the 80s and she now felt more confident.
"I had skills and talents I didn't know I had, that was a great thing," Ms French said.
"I got to meet new people and accomplish something new every week."
Arts wellbeing a federal priority
Arts wellbeing programs like The Creative Café, which is funded by Lotterywest, now have the attention of the federal government which has been looking to support courses as part of the recently announced National Cultural Policy entitled Revive.
The five-year plan is designed to prop up the arts through various funding schemes, including providing pilot finances to support access to art and music therapy programs.
Dr Christina Davies, director of the Centre for Arts, Mental Health and Wellbeing WA from the University of Western Australia, said the acknowledgement of the program's usefulness was timely, as often they were the first things to go when people needed to rein in spending due to costly mental health consultations.
Figures from the Productivity Commission released this month show in the past year one in four West Australians have put off seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist due to the cost.
Dr Davies said inexpensive or free wellbeing programs focused on artistic endeavours were a great way to support someone who may be struggling in the community.
"Singing in a choir, taking a dance class or painting are such great ways to focus your energy on something creative and fun," she said.
"All those things that brought us joy as children can bring so much happiness to us now as adults."
Hopes for classes to continue and grow
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre community engagement officer Mark Labrow said participants were surveyed about how they felt during and after each Creative Café class.
He said 97 per cent enjoyed the program; 96 per cent said they felt happy during the class; 93 per cent socialised and formed friendships while 87 per cent felt their confidence and self-esteem grow.
Mr Labrow said the strong results showed that community-focused classes that were free and accessible to everyone were important.
"We had people from disability services, from aged care and people who have been bereaved or from mental health services," he said.
"We really wanted to make it inclusive and make sure that we could get as many people through the door as possible and reduce those barriers to participating in the arts."
He is hoping the workshops will continue in Mandurah and that the format will be replicated in other parts of the country.
Prescribing artistic pursuits
While Dr Davies said people were familiar with doctors suggesting sport and physical activity in a bid to improve mood, the same could be said about singing, painting and listening to music.
She said the arts could be stigmatised or that adults could feel self-conscious about picking up a paintbrush.
But for those who do overcome their doubts, the benefits could be unending.
"You don't have to be good at art for art to be good for you," she said.
"Two hours a week of singing your heart out or sculpting something can release so much pent-up frustration or anxiety.
"I would recommend finding time for art and self-expression wherever you can."
