According to research, cat ownership can aid in managing anxiety and depression.
A 2022 report by American Psychology publication Psychcentral, found that petting or cuddling your cat can reduce the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body. This can help calm anxiety through feelings of calm and happiness, decreased heart rate and blood pressure.
Like many Australians today, anxiety runs in my family. I grew up watching my mother grapple with it, and I too find it comes in waves when I’m going through challenging periods in life. When my daughter was diagnosed with it and I saw how many of her school colleagues and friends were also struggling, it became apparent that this mental health condition seemed to be creeping through more and more families, getting its sharp claws into younger people like never before.
As a mother, arts advocate and marketing professional, my mission is to combat this wave of anxiety that’s taking over our teenagers lives, with the help of a CAT. A Creative Arts Toolkit.
Whether you blame genetics or the tech revolution with the rise of digital devices and social media, or the social and emotional effects of having dual working parents of latchkey kids, its undeniable that anxiety is on the rise. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics one in 14 young Australians aged 4-17 experienced an anxiety disorder in 2015. Mission Australia’s 2022 Youth Survey gathered 18,800 responses from people aged 15-19 across our country, where 18.3% identified as living with a mental health condition. That’s nearly 20% of those surveyed, and it goes on to report that 34% of respondents identified mental health as one of the most important issues in Australia.
It’s commonly understood that most people feel anxious from time to time. However, when these anxious feelings don’t go away or people find it hard to cope with daily life as a result of feeling anxious, this is when it may be a sign of an anxiety condition. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in a child or adolescent is excessive worry and tension about everyday events that the child or adolescent cannot control and that is expressed on most days for at least 6 months, to the extent that there is distress or difficulty in performing day-to-day tasks.
Since June 2022 I have been working on a creative project that aims to help our young people who struggle with anxiety. Having worked and played in Arts-related Industries for over 25 years, I decided to undertake a Masters Research Degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s School of Creative Industries. Through this research project, my goal is to investigate which forms of creative practice (making art) are most helpful in reducing anxiety for 13-16 year olds. For many decades, Art Therapy has been a proven form of therapeutical practice helping those who suffer from anxiety and other mental health conditions. My research project will explore not only which types of art making is better at reducing anxiety and improving wellbeing, but also how can we make it more accessible and inclusive to Australian families through the development of a Creative Arts Toolkit (CAT).
I know from first hand experience, the power of making art and its’ benefits on reducing anxiety and providing a “creative flow” which improves mood and personal wellbeing. An accessible Creative Art Toolkit will be the commercial objective at the conclusion of the study, where funding through the Arts Industry and Government programs will become the priority. Meanwhile, my research continues with the help of leading academics from the School of Creative Industries at UniSC, mental health researchers and professionals from national arts bodies, and professional artists within the Sunshine Coast community.
As they say… watch this space. And get a cat!
To find out how you can participate in this research project please email ilka.brookes@research.usc.edu.au
If you are a young person and need someone to talk with, you can contact Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (24/7) kidshelpline.com.au
