March 30, 2009

Art Empowerment Initiative: Evaluating the Efficacy of an Art-based Stigma Reduction and Mental Health Enhancement Program

Principal Investigator: Abraham Mukolo, PhD

This study looked at the benefits of the arts programs of the Middle Tennessee Mental Health & Substance Abuse Coalition. Adults with mental health problems who were members of peer support centers were participants in the study. This study measured the extent to which participating in both training for and public exhibits of artistic expressions improves the participants' self-esteem, sense of efficacy and other psychosocial measures. It also measured whether there was any art-based reduction of mental health stigma. This study helped peer support centers have more data to look at the benefits of the different activities they offer.