Recovery through creativity: a study into lived experiences of participants in Dutch arts-based recovery initiatives

Introduction: It has been suggested that participatory arts-based activities inherently align with recovery-oriented way of working and may aid personal recovery in people with mental illness. However, underlying mechanisms need to be further clarified. The aim of this study is to contribute to more understanding on recovery through creativity by examining lived experiences in the context of arts-based recovery initiatives. Methods: In this qualitative, interpretive study, 26 participants from Dutch arts-based recovery initiatives were purposefully selected. Unstructured interviews were conducted and transcribed. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Eight themes describe participants' lived experiences of personal recovery through creativity in the context of participatory arts initiatives. We grouped these into four metathemes that represent the underlying mechanisms of recovery through creativity: "Engaging in a conscious and constructive activity," "Transforming and transcending painful experiences," "Belonging in a creative community," and "Steps toward emancipation." A fifth metatheme, "Opposing forces," describes the processes that hinder a favorable relationship between creativity and personal recovery. Discussion: The research confirms that participatory arts initiatives align with the recovery philosophy, with both contextual and arts-related aspects playing a role in the perceived benefits of participating in such an initiative. The experience of beauty and a sense of wholeness as a counterbalance to experiences of psychological suffering offers a promising avenue for further research, as well as research leading to a better understanding of how opposing forces in the relationship between creativity and recovery can be (self-)managed.