This website will allow the viewer to explore the research analysis of the effects of art therapy on young adults between the ages of 18-29 dealing with emotional trauma. The research includes an in-depth exploration of various types of art therapy: visual art, dance, music, photography, and visual journaling. Furthermore, the study explores the lack of awareness of art therapy and how, through a social media awareness campaign, "Dress the Mess" the narrative can be advanced to promote art therapy awareness by incorporating photography, graphic design, and the social media platform Instagram to inspire awareness and the holistic healing properties found within art therapy.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2020), 1 in 3 young adults between 18 and 25 will experience mental and emotional trauma, with 1 in 10 dealing with a severe mental illness. Mental health is the fifth most significant contributor to global disease. Yet, over 80% of those with mental illness have never received treatment due to being confused over mental health information hindering mental health awareness (Latha, Meena, Pravitha, Dasqupta, and Chaturvedi, 2020).
To make an impact on young adults who are seeking answers to emotional trauma, it is vital to promote information through resources they are using daily. Young adults prefer to obtain health information, insight into social values, and improving understanding of complex issues from the internet and through electronic means (Seymore, 2018). Social media can be a positive tool for promoting messages allowing social networking and enabling people to connect through reinforced information (Latha et al., 2020). Seymore also suggests in a short period, social marketing campaigns, including online campaigns, can influence individual behaviors (Seymore, 2018).
The purpose is to bring awareness to young adults dealing with mental and emotional trauma and point them toward alternative and holistic healing. The “Dress the Mess” social media awareness campaign serves as an advocate for art therapy in its various forms. A social media campaign like "Dress the Mess" can help to connect young people to the right online community. It is a place that connects them mentally and emotionally to others experiencing the same feelings.
People connect by sharing their stories. The marketing world has revolutionized over the past decade, allowing companies to reach potential customers through creative storytelling. The beauty of using marketing to tell your story is the vast potential to reach a broad audience through images, text, social media platforms, and billboards. The world is transforming socially, and with technological advances such as smartphones and the internet, the way society connects and finds information worldwide is rising.
As an advocate for art therapy awareness this website uses resources such as Instagram to encourage shared stories. The mission of the thesis topic explores ways to increase awareness of art therapy through social media, customer education, and fashion, through an awareness campaign that builds community. Lee and Borah point out that positive self-presentation gives young adults a sense of self-consciousness and independence within the online social networking world (531). However, at times what is presented on social media is hidden behind filters, fake smiles, and mental health issues. Young adults who are in college often fall within the group of anxiety, mood disorders, and chronic daily stress (Beerse, Van Lith, and Stanwood 419). Using social media to market an art therapy awareness campaign would allow young adults to have a greater understanding of programs that are available to them within art therapy to deal with these symptoms. Art therapy integrates art making, applied psychological theory, and the creative process to establish Mindfulness-based Art Therapy (MBAT) which is a combination of art therapy and stress reduction practices (Beerse et al 419). By branding art therapy awareness through internet marketing smaller specialized audiences can be pursued (Lalaounis 2022). Overall, it is the lack of awareness of art therapy that leads the thesis research to apply, test, and visually communicate the need for art therapy in young adults dealing with mental and emotional health issues.
Works Cited:
Beerse, Megan E, et al. “Therapeutic Psychological and Biological Responses to Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy.” Stress and Health: Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2020, Pages 419-432. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32073202/.
Lalaounis, Sotiris T. “Strategic Brand Management and Development.” O’Reilly Online Learning, Routledge, Feb. 2022, https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/strategic-brand-management/9781000298185/ch10.xhtml.
Latha, K et al. “Effective use of social media platforms for promotion of mental health awareness.” Journal of education and health promotion vol. 9 124. 28 May. 2020, doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_90_20
Lee, Danielle K. L., Borah, Porismita. “Self-Presentation on Instagram and Friendship Development among Young Adults: A Moderated Mediation Model of Media Richness, Perceived Functionality, and Openness.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 103, 2020, pp. 57-66.
National Alliance on Mental Illness. "NAMI", 2020, https://www.nami.org
Seymour, Jane. “The Impact of Public Health Awareness Campaigns on the Awareness and Quality of Palliative Care.” Journal of palliative medicine vol. 21,S1 (2018): S30-S36. doi:10.1089/jpm.2017.0391
