Healing Survivors of Violence Through Storytelling and Creative Arts 

Storytelling and creative arts can be powerful tools to promote awareness, healing, and empathy surrounding critical global issues, including violence. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) depict that 1 in 3 of women worldwide have faced physical or sexual violence.^[9] Although gender-based violence is commonly associated with affecting mainly females, it is important to recognize that males and LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other identities) individuals can face forms of violence too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in the United States, about 1 in 10 men experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.^[1] Moreover, research reveals that male and LGBTQIA+ survivors can face more stigma due to gender stereotypes and the way domestic and sexual violence are commonly labeled as cisgender and heterosexual women’s issues, which, in turn, can especially bring up the fear of judgment and victim-blaming.^[2] Unfortunately, violence can take on many forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault, torture, and acid attacks.^[4] Violence can impact diverse aspects of health and wellness. In addition to bodily injuries and adverse physical health outcomes, violence is also associated with mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and post-traumatic stress disorder.^[4] Violence can also affect future generations as the environments children are raised in can influence their behavioral and emotional outcomes.^[9] According to the WHO, forms of violence can also bring negative social and economic costs such as isolation and loss of wages.^[9] Since violence is such a crucial global health concern that can affect diverse populations, it is interesting to consider the role storytelling and creative arts can play in survivors’ healing journeys and how they may facilitate them. 

Storytelling and the creative arts can help survivors feel heard and empowered, which, in turn, can help promote their healing journeys and well-being. Diverse forms of storytelling and creative arts can be employed including visual art, dance, music, and writing. There is even a field known as art therapy, which utilizes arts to treat mental health concerns and improve mental health. Research suggests that the arts are becoming more popular in therapeutic and mental health settings.^[8] Engaging in arts-based activities can offer a safe space for survivors of violence to express themselves. Self-expression can be empowering for some survivors, especially since their traumatic experiences could be significantly accompanied by stigma or may be sensitive to share openly. Communication and sharing artwork with others could help survivors combat feelings of isolation and feel more acknowledged.^[7]By the same token, research has found that inner-directed dance can impact survivors’ healing journeys, particularly by reducing social isolation, increasing body-self awareness, and boosting self-esteem.^[5] Music can be an influential tool as well since it can significantly evoke emotions. Studies have found that even if music may encompass nonverbal expression at times, musical interventions could help improve physical health and well-being, including immune function.^[3] Moreover, forms of storytelling and creative arts like expressive writing can be beneficial for survivors because they are relatively safe, accessible, and cost-effective.^[6] 

Although storytelling and creative arts can offer therapeutic benefits and support some survivors’ healing journeys, it is important to take note that each individual’s experience with violence can be different, and therefore, there may not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Some survivors may feel that storytelling and creative arts can help them process their emotions and feel acknowledged, while other survivors may not significantly feel the benefits. For instance, sharing stories about violence could be accompanied by stigma, and some survivors may feel re-traumatized by recalling and reflecting on their experiences. Furthermore, other sociocultural factors including gender stereotypes, discrimination, and fear of judgment^[4] can influence how comfortable survivors may feel about incorporating storytelling and creative arts in their healing journeys. Research highlights the importance of supportive and nonjudgemental environments since this can ensure that survivors interested in sharing their stories feel genuinely supported and have a positive storytelling experience.^[4] Additionally, more research studies should be conducted to further evaluate the efficacy and therapeutic benefits storytelling and creative arts could offer survivors.^[7] 

Violence is still a prevalent and important global issue to be aware of. Some research studies have supported the use of storytelling and creative arts among survivors, while some studies have challenged them for their potential limitations, and recommend further research to be conducted. Storytelling and creative arts are overall healthy coping strategies that can provide survivors of violence outlets to freely express themselves and empower them on their healing journeys. Simultaneously, survivors struggling with their mental health and emotional well-being can also consider starting to seek help from mental health counselors at their schools and colleges, primary care physicians, and organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Crisis Text Line, and others. Along with utilizing the healing powers of storytelling and creative arts, more advocacy efforts, including the availability of gender-inclusive services,^[2] mental health resources, and adequate education about consent, should be continued to help address violence across the globe and empower survivors. 

References 

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, June 1). Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence, and Stalking Among Men. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/men-ipvsvandstalking.html

[2] Hine, B., Wallace, S., & Bates, E. A. (2022, September). Understanding the Profile and Needs of Abused Men: Exploring Call Data From a Male Domestic Violence Charity in the United Kingdom. National Center for Biotechnology Information. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9682499

[3] MacIntosh, H. B. (2002, October 21). Sounds of healing: music in group work with survivors of sexual abuse. ScienceDirect. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455602002290?via%3Dihub

[4] Mannell, J., Ahmad, L., & Ahmad, A. (2018, August 23). Narrative storytelling as mental health support for women experiencing gender-based violence in Afghanistan. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953618304350 

[5] Margolin, I. (2019, November 4). Breaking Free: One Adolescent Woman’s Recovery from Dating Violence Through Creative Dance. Springer Link. 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10465-019-09311-9

[6] Meston, C. M., Lorenz, T. A., & Stephenson, K. R. (2013, September 1). Effects of Expressive Writing on Sexual Dysfunction, Depression, and PTSD in Women with a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial. Oxford Academic. https://academic.oup.com/jsm/article-abstract/10/9/2177/6940247 

[7] Rouse, A., Jenkinson, E., & Warner, C. (2022, February 26). The use of “art” as a resource in recovery from the impact of sexual abuse in childhood: A qualitative systematic review. Taylor & Francis Online. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17533015.2022.2034900 

[8] Shukla, A., Choudhari, S. G., Gaidhane, A. M., & Quazi Syed, Z. (2022). Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review. Cureus, 14(8), e28026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28026
[9] World Health Organization. (2024, March 25). Violence against women. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women