Promoting health through creativity : for professionals in health, arts and education / edited by Terese Schmid.

"This book is about redefining the health values of creativity. Creativity is more than the capacity to be inventive or innovative. It is more than the capacity to create great works of art or music or dance. It derives from biological changes during human evolution as a tool that is needed for survival. Everybody has the capacity, and its successful use generates feelings of pleasure and self-esteem that are beneficial to health. Denial of creativity is a serious issue and is embedded in modern values." "Views about important strategies for the future are expressed. They will require acceptance by health, arts and education professionals that everyday creativity is a resource of high value for health, particularly as it could affect the incidence of depression. New approaches to promotion policies, education at all levels, and research are recommended, taking the viewpoint that such strategies, supported by long-term planning and funding, would assist in the alleviation of a problem that costs communities large amounts of money every year."--From book cover.