Colors of Connection

Awareness about the importance of mental health has grown in the 21st century despite the fact that still many leaders and governments do not perceive it as important as physical health, although studies have shown that expression through art can help people with depression, anxiety, and stress. Art has also been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in aging adults.
“Colors of Connection” aims to provide youth workers with the necessary knowledge and methodologies of how art can be used as an emotional release  (catharsis) tool. Art therapy is a tool therapists use to help patients interpret, express, and resolve their emotions and thoughts. There are many different forms of art-therapy, the most popular being - dance therapy, drama therapy, expressive therapy, music therapy and writing therapy. Each of them have a
wide variety of activities and benefits, however all of them are found to be useful for improving mental and emotional health.

Main objectives:
- To promote art therapy as a tool for catharsis to be used for improving mental health especially for marginalized groups;
- To support youth workers with knowledge and activities to improve the well-being in their - organisations and local communities;
- To facilitate intercultural learning among participants from different EU and partner countries, exchanging information on the mental health realities, issues and expert accessibility in different countries while building international partnership and cooperation;
- To strengthen the capacities of youth workers and their NGOs to actively participate in society on the debate of mental health importance by providing tools, knowledge and activities for campaigning the need for medical attention for people in
need of it.