Unlock Better Mental Health: 3 Fast Creative Tips from Arts and Health Week

This Autumn sees the return of Arts and Health Week, which is now in its 5th year, from 6-12th October. The week is all about using creativity to improve mental health and well-being.

Created by leading Greater Manchester arts and health charity, Arc, the organisation will be opening its doors for a packed week of free activities, including creative workshops, talks and exhibitions, on and offline.

Mental health issues are sharply rising in Stockport, with more diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and serious mental illness. Young people are also struggling, with nearly 1 in 5 affected with mental health issues, and both adults and children face worsening mental health and growing inequalities.

To celebrate the 5th Arts and Health Week, Arc CEO, Jacqui Wood has revealed Arc’s top three tips to using simple creativity to help boost mood.

Tip one – draw to boost mental health
Drawing is a powerful way to ease stress and encourage mindfulness—just grab a pen or pencil and sketch whatever you see, letting go of perfection for instant calm and focus.

Tip two – use words to improve wellbeing
Boost wellbeing with the freedom of blackout poetry. Find hidden poems by crossing out words on old book pages. All you need is a page and a pen—get creative with colours too.

Tip three – Try simple outdoor photography
Photography helps with mental health by promoting mindfulness, reducing stress, and reconnecting with the moment. Take a 20-minute walk outside, get creative, and look through your phone camera lens to feel the uplift—alone or with others.

Arc’s free public events during Arts and Health Week can be booked via Eventbrite.

To find out more information, please visit www.artsandhealthweek.co.uk and keep up with social media using the dedicated hashtag #ArtsAndHealthWeek2025 across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Arc is one of the UK’s longest standing and most respected arts and mental health charities. Based in Stockport and operating across Greater Manchester, Arc creates life-changing opportunities for people to be creative, connect with each other and learn new skills – the organisation has 30 years’ experience helping thousands of people across the North West and beyond.

For people struggling with mental health, Stockport offers a multitude of local services which can be found here and for people requiring urgent support, call 111 and select the mental health option or reach the Samaritans at 116 123 for 24/7 confidential support.