Outcomes and experiences of an art workshop on young people’s symptoms of depression and anxiety in Peru: a non-controlled trial

Background: Art-based interventions are recognised for their mental health (MH) benefits. This study assessed the changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults and their experiences after participating in a three-session mixed arts workshop. Method: This non-controlled trial study included a pre-intervention and two post-intervention measurements of depression (PHQ-8) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms and exit interviews with participants and facilitators. The registration number of this trial is ISRCTN16079466 Results: Thirty-seven young adults participated in the study. Over 78% of participants reduced their PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scores by at least 3 points after the workshop. Three months later, over 75% maintained that reduction on both scores. Participants reported experiencing social, emotional, and individual benefits after the workshop. Conclusions: Art-based workshops offer promising benefits for youth’s MH. This intervention can be short and cost-effective. An integrative approach combining arts and MH may be positive for individuals with anxiety and depression.