Music and Art Support Mental Wellbeing

Music and art are often described as “nice to have” — enjoyable, expressive or relaxing. Yet their impact on mental wellbeing runs far deeper than entertainment. Across cultures and throughout history, humans have used sound, rhythm, colour and creative expression to regulate emotions, connect with one another and make sense of experience.

In modern life, creativity is sometimes sidelined in favour of productivity, efficiency and problem-solving. Yet research and lived experience continue to show that music and art play a powerful role in emotional regulation, nervous system balance and cognitive health, at every stage of life.

Understanding how creativity supports mental wellbeing can help us re-integrate it into everyday life — not as another task, but as a natural human resource.

The nervous system and the need for regulation

At the heart of mental wellbeing sits the nervous system. It is constantly scanning the environment for cues of safety or threat, shaping how we think, feel and respond.

When life is busy, uncertain or emotionally demanding, the nervous system can remain in a heightened state of alert. This may show up as racing thoughts, irritability, fatigue, poor concentration or a sense of feeling overwhelmed. Over time, this constant activation can take a toll on mental and emotional health.

Music and art offer a gentle way to shift this state.

Rhythm, sound, colour and movement communicate directly with the nervous system. Listening to music can slow breathing and heart rate. Visual art can narrow attention and bring the mind into the present moment. These effects help activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the part responsible for rest, recovery and restoration.

Importantly, this response does not depend on skill or talent. The nervous system responds to engagement, not performance.

Music as emotional regulation

Music has a unique ability to meet us where we are emotionally. Certain sounds energise and motivate, while others calm and soothe. Familiar music can create a sense of safety, comfort and connection, especially during stressful or uncertain times.

From a neurological perspective, music influences brain chemistry. It has been shown to increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation and reward, while also reducing cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. This combination supports mood, focus and emotional balance.

Many people use music intuitively — putting on certain playlists while driving, cooking or unwinding in the evening. When used intentionally, music becomes a simple yet powerful wellbeing tool.

Even humming or singing quietly can stimulate the vagus nerve, supporting nervous system regulation and emotional release. These small moments of sound and rhythm can have a meaningful impact on how the body feels.

Art as expression without words

Not all emotions are easily expressed through language. Visual art provides a non-verbal pathway for processing experience, allowing feelings to move without the need for explanation or analysis.

Drawing, painting, colouring or creating allows emotions to be expressed safely and indirectly. For some people, this feels more accessible than talking, particularly when emotions are complex or difficult to name.

Creative expression also reduces internal pressure. There is no “right” outcome, no need to explain or justify. This freedom supports curiosity rather than judgement, helping quiet the inner critic and reduce mental noise.

Engaging with art draws attention into the present moment. This shift away from rumination and overthinking can be deeply grounding, especially during periods of stress or emotional load.

Creativity and cognitive health

Music and art stimulate multiple areas of the brain simultaneously. Music engages memory, attention and pattern recognition. Visual arts activate areas linked to spatial awareness, imagination and problem-solving.

Over time, this kind of engagement supports cognitive flexibility — the brain’s ability to adapt, shift perspective and respond rather than react. Cognitive flexibility is closely linked to emotional resilience and mental wellbeing.

Research has associated regular creative engagement with improved mood, reduced anxiety and lower symptoms of depression. While creativity is not a replacement for professional mental health support when that is needed, it plays a valuable role in maintaining everyday mental health.

Creativity offers stimulation without pressure, challenge without threat — a balance that supports long-term brain health.

Creativity across the lifespan

The benefits of music and art are not limited to any one age group.

Children naturally use creativity to regulate emotions and explore the world before they have language for how they feel. Music, movement and drawing help them express joy, frustration and curiosity in healthy ways.

As adults, creativity is often pushed aside as responsibilities increase. Work, family and daily demands can leave little space for expression without purpose. Reintroducing creativity can support stress management, emotional processing and identity beyond roles and obligations.

For older adults, music and art are particularly powerful. Music has been shown to support memory recall and emotional connection even when other cognitive functions decline. Creative engagement also supports fine motor skills, social connection and a sense of purpose.

Shared creative experiences — such as attending exhibitions, performances or community events — strengthen connection across generations, supporting wellbeing on both an individual and collective level.

Creativity as connection

Music and art are not only individual practices; they are social ones. Attending a concert, exhibition or performance creates shared experience, empathy and connection.

These communal experiences support mental wellbeing by reducing isolation and reinforcing a sense of belonging. Feeling connected — to others, to place, to culture — is a key factor in emotional health.

In local communities, creative spaces often act as gathering points, offering accessible ways to engage with creativity without pressure or expectation.

Everyday creativity doesn’t need to be complicated

One of the most common barriers to creativity is the belief that it requires time, talent or specialist equipment. In reality, creativity can be woven into daily life in small, accessible ways:

• Listening to music with intention rather than as background noise
• Singing, humming or tapping along to rhythm
• Sketching, doodling or colouring without an outcome in mind
• Visiting a local gallery or exhibition
• Attending a community performance or music event
• Using music to transition between parts of the day

These moments do not need to be long or structured. What matters is presence, not perfection.

Creativity as a wellbeing resource

Modern life often encourages constant thinking, analysing and doing. Music and art offer something different — space to feel, pause and process.

They support nervous system regulation, emotional expression and cognitive flexibility in ways that feel natural rather than forced. Creativity does not demand productivity. It invites participation.

When we make room for music and art, we support our mental wellbeing quietly and consistently. We reconnect with something deeply human — the ability to express, regulate and adapt through creativity.

A gentle invitation

You do not need to become an artist or musician to benefit from creativity. You simply need to engage.

Whether it’s listening to a favourite piece of music, sketching absent-mindedly, or spending time with art in your community, creativity offers a steady, accessible form of mental health support.

At every stage of life, music and art remind us that wellbeing is not only about fixing problems — it’s about supporting how we feel, how we connect and how we live.