Robert Latchman's Impact On The Mentally Ill

Robert Latchman is a 37 year old man who has suffered from learning disabilities and schizophrenia for his whole life. At the age of 19 he was enrolled in an art therapy program called the League of Education and Treatment Center, a nonprofit day program for adults with neurological disabilities. In 2011 Latchman got hit by two cars and had to undergo multiple surgeries to fix the physical damage. But what about his psychological damages? With the help of the art therapy program he became an example of someone who has benefited from the power that the arts hold to heal the mind. (Art Therapy Saves Schizophrenic Hit By Two Penises by, Susan Donaldson James). Furthermore the contributions that art has had on the mentally ill is extraordinary,

For example, Adrian Hill, a man from England with tuberculosis used the idea of “participating in art projects with patients” (The History Of Art Therapy) as a way to help patients to express themselves and more importantly help them express how they are feeling without the use of words. Self expression in the form of art helped the patients be outgoing and confident without worrying that people might judge or make any unnecessary comments about their artwork. The process you go through while creating art is not only stimulating but also helps to “ dig deep and express and explore your inner new self in new ways-unleash buried feelings” (Art Therapy: Healing Through Self-Expression by Meghan Rabbitt). Art allows us to reach into a place that is not only untouched but unedited, expressing a true emotion deep

For example, when most people are diagnosed with any type of mental disease, the first and foremost thing to do is get them on some type of medication. Nevertheless thanks to new and upcoming research there has been proven evidence that “ engagement with artistic activities, either as an observer of the creative efforts of others or as an initiator of one’s own creative efforts, can enhance one’s moods, emotions, and other psychological states as well as have a salient impact on important physiological parameters” (The Connection Between Art, Healing, And Public Health: A Review of Current Literature) by Heather L. Stuckey and Jeremy Nobel). Any type of art between, music, drawing, painting, writing, or etc. has been used to help ease the emotion of the mentally ill. Not only can it create a sense of safety, but the please some get from making art has been proven to ease anxiety, decrease depression, calm nerves, and help cope with things that may be harder for one to take in with a mental