A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy

Mehtap Ağaç; Sultan Ayaz Alkaya

doi:10.59124/guhes.1691384

A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy

Abstract

The nursing profession carries significant mental health risks due to its high levels of stress and intense emotional demands. Factors such as the pandemic and staff shortages have increased nurses’ workloads, leading to a rise in mental health issues such as burnout, anxiety, and depression. These mental health challenges negatively affect both individual well-being and the quality of patient care. In addition to traditional interventions, art therapy has emerged as a promising method to support nurses' psychological well-being. By utilizing creative processes such as painting, music, dance, and drama, art therapy helps individuals express their emotions, reduce stress, and enhance psychological resilience. Research shows that art therapy alleviates nurses' emotional burden, fosters self-awareness, and promotes psychological healing. This review discusses the mental health issues faced by nurses, the impacts of these issues, and the positive effects of art therapy on nurses' mental health based on scientific findings.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study did not receive any financial support.

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was deemed unnecessary for this study, as open access sources were utilized; however, the study was conducted in accordance with ethical principles.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Review Article

Authors

Mehtap Ağaç
0000-0001-7853-2443
Türkiye

Sultan Ayaz Alkaya ^*
0000-0003-4745-5478
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 29, 2025

Submission Date

May 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 21, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.59124/guhes.1691384

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA29DA73GY

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ağaç, M., & Ayaz Alkaya, S. (2025). A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy. Journal of Gazi University Health Sciences Institute, 7(2), 69-77. https://doi.org/10.59124/guhes.1691384

AMA

1.Ağaç M, Ayaz Alkaya S. A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy. GUHES. 2025;7(2):69-77. doi:10.59124/guhes.1691384

Chicago

Ağaç, Mehtap, and Sultan Ayaz Alkaya. 2025. “A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy”. Journal of Gazi University Health Sciences Institute 7 (2): 69-77. https://doi.org/10.59124/guhes.1691384.

EndNote

Ağaç M, Ayaz Alkaya S (September 1, 2025) A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy. Journal of Gazi University Health Sciences Institute 7 2 69–77.

IEEE

[1]M. Ağaç and S. Ayaz Alkaya, “A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy”, GUHES, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 69–77, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.59124/guhes.1691384.

ISNAD

Ağaç, Mehtap - Ayaz Alkaya, Sultan. “A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy”. Journal of Gazi University Health Sciences Institute 7/2 (September 1, 2025): 69-77. https://doi.org/10.59124/guhes.1691384.

JAMA

1.Ağaç M, Ayaz Alkaya S. A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy. GUHES. 2025;7:69–77.

MLA

Ağaç, Mehtap, and Sultan Ayaz Alkaya. “A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy”. Journal of Gazi University Health Sciences Institute, vol. 7, no. 2, Sept. 2025, pp. 69-77, doi:10.59124/guhes.1691384.

Vancouver

1.Mehtap Ağaç, Sultan Ayaz Alkaya. A Creative Approach to Enhancing Nurses’ Mental Health: Art Therapy. GUHES. 2025 Sep. 1;7(2):69-77. doi:10.59124/guhes.1691384