Throughout recorded history, people in diverse cultures have embraced the idea that creative expression - including visual art, stories, dance and music - contributes to healing.
In recent times, the therapeutic benefit of expressive writing has been well researched in the global north but not in the global south. In South Africa, in particular, this is a significant gap because of our traumatic and divided history, our increasingly limited resources and the urgent need to build a caring and compassionate society.
We can now release the results of a peer-reviewed qualitative study on the work of the Life Righting Collective, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). It is a study of a diverse group of Africans, who were members of the Life Righting Collective.
We were co-authors of the paper with medical practitioners, medical students and academics with interests in mental health and medical humanities. Most of the 20 participants reported improvements in overall wellness and mental health as a result of our writing courses, in line with other research findings which show that creative writing can promote healthier choices as well as improve relationships, mental health and work prospects.
The research findings show that the courses can be a useful, non-medical, cost-efficient method to improve psychological well-being. This, we believe, proves our purpose and promise that creative writing has the power to heal.
A little more detail, in the participants’ own words
Some participants reported an improvement in their writing capabilities and their mental health, as well as life skills and personal development. As one participant put it: “We lost our oldest son to cancer … I then started writing a journal, which I called my grief journal… working with your emotions towards healing from grief.”
Another said: “There were new voices inside of me… it really has affected my whole way of seeing myself and the melancholy – it helps lift it.”
And one said: “Once you’ve shared your stories, there is a kind of a bond that is very special.”
In conclusion
The study concluded that shared writing in group settings is invaluable in promoting care of self and others, in both homogeneous and diverse communities. The experiences of course attendees suggests that bearing witness to issues that need attention in our lives, and communicating one’s life experience through life writing, can promote confidence and advocacy. If you would like to read more about the study, there is a review article from The Conversation here and you can read the full academic article from the BMJ here.