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Tribune News Network
Doha
A Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university is leading efforts to develop a pilot programme in Museums Telehealth Art Therapy to address the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in Qatar.
One of the themes the project, led by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and funded by QF’s Qatar National Research Fund, will focus on is national identity. In collaboration with the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), the project will use the museum’s artefacts to offer children virtual opportunities to explore their history and roots, while also aiming to counteract some of the effects of social distancing and isolation.
While children have remained largely shielded from the physical impacts of COVID-19, they appear to be the ones suffering most in terms of mental health. Isolation from friends and drastically limited in-person social interaction, while for their own good, has slowly but surely creeped up on their mental well-being. In a time where the need for counselling has increased but in-person counselling is not an option, an increasing number of therapists have resorted to using telehealth.
“Telehealth refers to seeing a doctor or healthcare professional using digital means. In therapy, telehealth sessions are done through video conferencing allowing psychiatrists and therapists to provide services to patients virtually,” said Dr Alan Weber, professor at WCM-Q.
Led by Prof Weber, an arts-in-health specialist, the project will bring together an international team of art psychotherapists, psychiatrists and physicians in Qatar and the UK to conduct the research. Michelle Dixon, art therapist at Sidra Medicine, also a member of QF, will serve as a co-principal investigator of the project and will facilitate the online art therapy sessions. The initial group to benefit from this project will consist of adolescents at Sidra Medicine.
Art therapy is an exploratory process that uses art media as its primary mode of communication and is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing.
It involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, colouring, or sculpting to help people express themselves artistically and examine the psychological and emotional undertones in their art.
“Art therapy can be helpful especially if somebody is having difficulty verbalising their struggle,” explained Dixon. “This is especially common in teenagers. They are often hesitant to talk about their feelings and art can be a more inviting method for them.”
Sahar Saad, museum development specialist at NMoQ, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with QF on this project that will allow us to use our resources to make a positive impact on children in Qatar. We are actively ensuring that accessibility and inclusion is at the forefront of NMoQ’s vision through making available a range of assistive technology, sensory backpacks, inclusive programing, and interactive displays.
Once the model has gone through the pilot phase, the team eventually hopes to deliver it to Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Doha
A Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university is leading efforts to develop a pilot programme in Museums Telehealth Art Therapy to address the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in Qatar.
One of the themes the project, led by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and funded by QF’s Qatar National Research Fund, will focus on is national identity. In collaboration with the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), the project will use the museum’s artefacts to offer children virtual opportunities to explore their history and roots, while also aiming to counteract some of the effects of social distancing and isolation.
While children have remained largely shielded from the physical impacts of COVID-19, they appear to be the ones suffering most in terms of mental health. Isolation from friends and drastically limited in-person social interaction, while for their own good, has slowly but surely creeped up on their mental well-being. In a time where the need for counselling has increased but in-person counselling is not an option, an increasing number of therapists have resorted to using telehealth.
“Telehealth refers to seeing a doctor or healthcare professional using digital means. In therapy, telehealth sessions are done through video conferencing allowing psychiatrists and therapists to provide services to patients virtually,” said Dr Alan Weber, professor at WCM-Q.
Led by Prof Weber, an arts-in-health specialist, the project will bring together an international team of art psychotherapists, psychiatrists and physicians in Qatar and the UK to conduct the research. Michelle Dixon, art therapist at Sidra Medicine, also a member of QF, will serve as a co-principal investigator of the project and will facilitate the online art therapy sessions. The initial group to benefit from this project will consist of adolescents at Sidra Medicine.
Art therapy is an exploratory process that uses art media as its primary mode of communication and is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing.
It involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, colouring, or sculpting to help people express themselves artistically and examine the psychological and emotional undertones in their art.
“Art therapy can be helpful especially if somebody is having difficulty verbalising their struggle,” explained Dixon. “This is especially common in teenagers. They are often hesitant to talk about their feelings and art can be a more inviting method for them.”
Sahar Saad, museum development specialist at NMoQ, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with QF on this project that will allow us to use our resources to make a positive impact on children in Qatar. We are actively ensuring that accessibility and inclusion is at the forefront of NMoQ’s vision through making available a range of assistive technology, sensory backpacks, inclusive programing, and interactive displays.
Once the model has gone through the pilot phase, the team eventually hopes to deliver it to Syrian refugees in Turkey.
