An innovative collaboration between the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and the Wexner Center for the Arts has resulted in an art-based treatment option for chronic illness. A doctor from the medical center and a patient have shared their experiences, emphasizing the positive impacts of this holistic approach to health.
Subhankar Chakraborty, MD, PhD at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, highlights the role of stress in chronic illness. "It is very important to recognize that chronic illness comes with underlying stress," he states. He further explains, "Stress drives the severity of chronic illness, and with the tremendous shortage that we have of access to timely mental health care, I think it's important to have these kinds of activities that foster creativity."
Addressing these concerns, the Wexner Center for the Arts initiated an eight-week program called Project Gather. This program was designed for patients grappling with chronic gastrointestinal issues and provided them an opportunity to engage with art and socialize in a stress-free environment. Tracie McCambridge, director of art and resilience at the Wexner Center for the Arts shares her perspective: "The US Surgeon General has stated that loneliness is actually a health crisis in our country. And so, it’s my hope that programs like this that bring people together help to connect them through their similar lived experiences or identities but connect them in a really fun and engaging and stress-free way," according to a news release from Ohio State University.
Project Gather involves patients observing different pieces of art, discussing their impressions with other patients, and keeping a journal about their observations. Chakraborty elaborates on how this method fosters community and socialization: "They're often in a constant sense of almost like a fight or flight response because they’re worried that something they will eat or drink will trigger their symptoms. They feel socially isolated because they can’t mingle with others and eat with others at the table." Chakraborty has been actively involved with the arts program, recommending Project Gather to many of his gastrointestinal patients.
One of Chakraborty’s patients, Kim, participated in this program. Despite severe symptoms that disrupted her sleep, she reported positive results from the combination of clinical care and Project Gather. She appreciated the holistic approach to her health. Kim shares: "I didn’t want to just take a pill. I didn’t want to just have some surgery as the way to kind of treat this. I really wanted to have a plan that was going to be more holistic," according to a news release from Ohio State University.
