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At the press conference last week that the number of Covid-19 cases was rising, a series of projects began to emerge in my mind.This mint Pocket skirt, one Kingfisher jumpsuit, Definitely Hudson Sweatpants.
Now it’s locked, my daughters picked up the whiteboard from my home office, erased the “2021 Freelance Project” and wrote a list for school holidays; decorating T-shirts, playing pirates, drawing crazy things, baking cakes . I add sewing.
Sewing is my hope and comfort for this blockade. I only did it for a few years, but after spending a few hours stitching, cutting the fabric and getting confused about the pattern, something happened—I felt calmer and happier. I’m not good, I must concentrate. But this is the point. It stopped intrusive thoughts about Delta tension and cancelled work in a way that yoga or meditation was never fully realized.
Dr. Pippa Burns is a medical researcher at the University of Wollongong. Her thesis Happy whore Maybe it can explain why I feel this way. It studies the health effects of crochet. After surveying more than 8,000 crocheters, Burns found that 89.5% of respondents said this practice made them feel more calm, while 82% felt happier.
The results of the study did not surprise Burns, he also crocheted. “It’s very careful because you are counting stitches. You don’t think about who said what at work or what you need to do tomorrow. You just focus on what you are creating.”
So if crocheting and sewing are so good for our emotions, why don’t doctors prescribe them, especially when Australians are experiencing this situation Increase mental distress? Well, some general practitioners are already.
This is an aspect of a practice called social prescription. It has received enthusiastic support in the UK and Germany. In the UK and Germany, more than half of general practitioners refer patients with a range of social, emotional or financial problems to the community. service.
The adoption of prescriptions in Australian society has been slower, although is recognized It consists of two top institutions: the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Consumer Health Forum.
“It’s about society looking at health more comprehensively,” Burns said. “You need not only clinical or pharmacological intervention. You can also perform creative interventions, which may be equally important to someone’s recovery.”
Burns formed part of a steering group with a general practitioner and psychologist to consult and design an eight-week plan called “The Creativity of Prescriptions.” Temporary worker, A social enterprise located in Illawarra, south of Sydney. Some local general practitioners in the area are now referring their patients to the course.
In the course, participants can test drive a new creative activity every week-including dancing, painting and gardening-to help manage anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. The workshop is taught by a series of professionals including writer Helena Fox and singer/songwriter Elana Stone. This course is suitable for NDIS recipients and is provided free of charge to anyone who has obtained a New South Wales Workers’ Compensation application and is recommended by a psychologist or general practitioner, but anyone can register.
Since Covid, the seminar has been online and has released a large box of materials to participants, who have access to video tutorials, self-paced activities, and weekly zoom tuition.
Caitlin Marshall, the co-founder of Makeshift, is a well-trained social worker, but she emphasized that the program is different from art therapy, which uses art or music to help people overcome trauma. The focus here is on learning and cultivating creative habits.
“People experience different versions of themselves. This is very important for personal changes to happen,” she said. “understanding [that] I can be a musician, and I would be curious about it. This is the real motivation to keep doing something…People feel like themselves again. “
The biggest obstacle is that many people say they are not artistic enough or creative enough, but Marshall said that you don’t have to be good at something to get mental health benefits.
“You can go for a run, but it’s really bad when you run, and you will still benefit from it. Creative practice has given us the same thing.” Although Marshall said there is more research to be done in this field, she pointed out one Little America Learn Using saliva tests before and after artistic creation, it was found that three-quarters of the participants had reduced cortisol levels after completing simple collages and paintings.
“I can’t draw” is a saying often heard by Wollongong cartoonist and illustrator Marcelo Baez. He teaches the drawing component of the Makeshift course and tries to reconnect the drawing to play the game. He said that the appearance of these pictures is not as important as getting the “happiness you had when you were a child and being a little silly on paper.”
Twenty years after seeking professional support to treat depression after severe childhood abuse, Monica* participated in the pilot workers’ compensation program. After completing the “Prescription Creativity” course, she developed the habit of writing and drawing every day. For her, it felt like a breakthrough.
“This plan is by far the most helpful. I’m talking about 20 years instead of 8 weeks,” she said. Monica believes that this is a combination of strategy and community awareness. “In the end, I think I can conquer the world… This project allowed me to embark on a journey of tapping my creative potential and fully believing in myself. You know, I can actually create something meaningful to life.”
The Black Dog Institute is conducting its own research on social prescriptions.Customer involvement in their depression clinic Prescription art Seminar with the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Preliminary survey results show that mental health and well-being and social tolerance have increased significantly. Professor Katherine Boydell, the lead researcher of the institute, believes that social prescriptions can play an important role in improving health outcomes and even reducing the cost of care.
However, Burns said, this requires more targeted educational activities so that general practitioners and the wider public understand the benefits of social prescriptions.
Burns is still knitting for his own happiness, especially when life is a little stressed recently, “there are a lot of rags and scarves these days.” Her next study? Regarding the positive effects of sewing on health.
*Name has been changed
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