Path to Healing
How live performances can help mental health
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness each year. The most common mental health conditions include anxiety disorders (31.6%), major depression (15.3%), substance use disorders (18.1%), and bipolar disorder (2.5%), which can significantly impact daily life, relationships, work, stress management, and basic activities. In severe cases, mental health issues can lead to substance use and suicide.
Sadly, only 50% of adults with mental illness receive any treatment.
Deb Soszko, Board Certified Music Therapist and Director for Dynamic Lynks Music Therapy, stated, “The hardest part of therapy is recognizing the need for support. Once acknowledged, it gets easier. Just stating the scary part out loud makes the next step seem like going downhill.”
Performing arts plays a significant role in supporting mental health, with many powerful tools available that most are unaware of. These tools foster creativity, reduce anxiety, build self-esteem, and offer a sense of belonging.
Music Therapy helps patients reach emotional balance through expression with lyrics. Songs tell stories, allowing people to hear they’re not alone, and solutions can be found for emotional wellness. Freedom Sings USA (501(c)3) is a great example of an organization that uses music therapy for veterans and their families to create outlets for their stories through the process of songwriting.
Dance Therapy releases endorphins, encourages emotional expression, and offers a healthy outlet for pent-up feelings. Dance is proven to improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk. Geni Lucchesi, DuPage Dance Academy’s Director, reflected, “Because dance involves mental effort, social interaction, and movement, a multitude of studies indicate this stimulation significantly reduces the risk of dementia.”
Soszko discusses a session at an eating disorders clinic where women were hunched over and quiet at the start. She asked them to dance with their eyes closed, picturing themselves as the person they wanted to be. After this 3-minute exercise, the women stood taller, and self-expression flowed freely. “Once completed, their words just started flowing. They were saying, “I really think I can do this. Why can’t I? Who says I can’t?”
Theater Arts Therapy combines arts and therapy. For those struggling to express themselves or process experiences, art becomes a vessel to connect with emotions and express pent-up feelings. According to Azizi Marshall of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, “We use acting and improv as therapeutic tools. Whether through non-verbal communication or role-playing, it allows people to articulate and understand feelings they may otherwise have difficulty expressing.”
How and where to find support?
- Know that there is nothing wrong with seeking help if you need it.
- Consider performance art therapy as a therapeutic approach that uses performance art techniques to facilitate emotional expression and healing. It’s ideal for people who haven’t had success with traditional therapy and for children who struggle to communicate.
- Check out resources at www.musictherapyillinois.org
- Take dance classes. They are available for all levels and ages.
- Attend local theater productions.
Laura Michaud
Melissa G. Wilson
About the authors: Laura Michaud is a founding member of the Encore Center for Performing Arts and founder of Chicago theaters and the Belmont Theater District. Melissa G. Wilson is a performing arts enthusiast, author, and renowned networker. For more information, visit ECPA-Elmhurst.org and Networlding.com.
