Publish date: 18 March 2025

A research partnership called Arts for the Blues worked with young people and their families’ lived experiences and is a joint study of the use of creative therapies for those with symptoms of depression who use our children’s mental health service in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington.

Children aged 9 to 13 were invited to use drawing, moving, creative writing, drama and music as part of the study to encourage children to talk about their thoughts and feelings in a setting that is different from traditional talking therapies. Growing evidence shows that creativity can reduce symptoms and feedback from the children indicated that alternative options we welcomed and should be explored further.

Find out more about the award nomination here: University's nominations for awards put children's mental health in the picture.