Holding the meeting "Art in the service of the mental health of society"

The specialized meeting "Art in the service of the mental health of society" was held in Zeba Garden.

According to Ambassador Arjan, citing the public relations of the Institute for the Development of Culture and Art, the specialized meeting "Art in the service of the mental health of the society" was held in Zeba Bagh by the initiative of the Institute for the Development of Culture and Art with the aim of examining the link between art and mental health and explaining the capacities of art in improving the quality of individual and social life.

In this meeting, professors of psychology and art discussed the different aspects of this issue by emphasizing the role of art in creating hope, strengthening empathy, creating a sense of security and promoting mental health.

Art should be a part of people's daily life

Mehdi Shafiei, deputy of artistic affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, emphasizing the necessity of connection between art, psychology, social sciences and health, said: Art can play a role in strengthening empathy, increasing resilience and social capital.

Stating that art should not be limited to cultural festivals and events, Shafi'i emphasized: One of the mistakes of cultural policy is to see art only during events and festivals, but art should be a part of people's lives, not an occasional event.

Issues of culture, art and content need to be discussed

Seyed Sadegh Pejman, the CEO of the Institute for the Development of Culture and Art, emphasized the importance of the role of intermediate institutions in creating a dialogue between different sectors, considered the issues of culture, art and content to be intermediate sectors and emphasized the necessity of linking art, mental health and cultural policy.

Pointing out that many of today's culture and art issues can no longer be solved solely within these areas, Pejman stated: Culture, art and content issues have become interdisciplinary issues, and for this reason, we need more spaces for dialogue. Many problems can be solved when people and institutions from different fields come together and share their experiences and views.

The psychologist's art is in creating hope and creating a sense of security

Gholam Ali Afrooz, Professor of Tehran University and Chairman of the Central Council of the Psychology and Counseling System Organization, emphasized the role of psychologists in improving the quality of human relations and said: "The art of a psychologist is in creating hope, positive thinking, forgiveness and using the language of affirmation, respect, persuasion and encouragement."

Referring to the importance of resilience and the quality of human communication, Afrooz emphasized: a psychologist should be able to create a sense of security in his clients and help improve family relationships by strengthening peace and trust.

Art moves human inner feelings

Alireza Aghayousfi, associate professor of clinical and health psychology and head of the psychology and counseling system organization, explained the link between art and psychology and said in this meeting: Art is the product of moving and moving feelings. Some experiences, even if they are not vividly remembered, can influence a person's feelings and behavior in later years.

Saying that emotions such as fear, anxiety and anger have a protective function, Mr. Aghayousefi emphasized: the problem arises when past experiences and emotions are connected to each other in such a way that a person shows reactions in current situations that he does not fully understand.

Art and mental health can be two sides of the same coin

Reza Pourhossein, the head of the psychology faculty of Tehran University, in the specialized meeting "Art in the service of the mental health of the society", emphasizing the link between art and mental health, said: the common origin of these two can be found in concepts such as beauty and spirituality.

Referring to the role of symbols, imagination and imagination in the formation of art, he said: if art and mental health have a common origin, they can be considered as two sides of the same coin; so that the image of one is not complete without the other.

In this meeting, Qutbuddin Sadeghi, the writer, theater director and professor of performing arts, emphasized the role of art in the mental health of the individual and society and stated: Art can express experiences and feelings that are difficult to convey through everyday language. Art and humor can help people to distance themselves from external pressures and return to internal balance. Art can also channel difficult feelings and experiences and provide a context for a person to face them again.

Emphasizing the role of culture and art in the formation of civility, this theater director stated: The sign of civility is not only building and producing. What gives civil dignity to a society is its intellectual, cultural and artistic emanations.

Art should become part of mental health policy

Majid Safarinia, professor of social psychology and vice president of education and research of the Organization of Psychology and Counseling, emphasized the necessity of organized use of the capacity of art in promoting mental health and considered art as one of the common languages between people and nations.

In a part of his speech, Safarinia highlighted music therapy as one of the complementary interventions and emphasized: music is not a substitute for the main treatments, but it can help in some areas, including reducing anxiety and feelings of loneliness.

In the end, he emphasized the necessity of cooperation between artists, psychologists, universities, media and professional institutions and called for more serious attention to the capacity of art in mental health planning and policy making.