As part of its continuous efforts to improve quality of life and promote mental well-being within the community, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has launched the “Art for Better Mental Health” project, an innovative program that combines art therapy and creative expression as an effective tool to support mental health. The project comes as a culmination of the successful pilot phase launched last year at Qatar University Health Center, where the initial experience demonstrated that art can serve as a bridge for expression, emotional release, and healing.

A Successful Beginning

The initiative began in October 2024 in celebration of World Mental Health Day, in collaboration with one of Qatar’s art-specialized universities. Drawing on the expertise of its students and graduates, the initiative offered group drawing workshops that allowed participants to express their emotions artistically in ways that helped reduce stress and elevate mood.

In April 2025, Phase One was officially launched in partnership with Qatar University Health Center through a series of three therapeutic art workshops. Patients and staff took part under the supervision of the center’s management and Mental Support Clinic, and with follow-up from PHCC’s Corporate Communications Directorate. These workshops provided a supportive and safe environment for self-expression through colors and canvases, reinforcing a sense of psychological comfort, belonging, and positive emotional release.

Community and Staff Engagement

Coinciding with World Mental Health Day in October 2025, and following the same direction, PHCC organized a dedicated art workshop for staff of the Corporate Communications Directorate. The session aimed to relieve work-related stress through artistic expression, reflecting PHCC’s commitment to making mental health a priority for both its workforce and patients.

To broaden the reach of the concept among community members, PHCC produced a series of educational videos in collaboration with the Mental Support Clinic at Qatar University Health Center. These videos highlighted the role of art—particularly drawing in expressive, spontaneous, or freeform styles—in raising mental health awareness and promoting the idea of “Art for Better Mental Health.” They also supported the development of therapeutic techniques used with patients receiving mental support services. The materials were published across PHCC’s digital platforms as part of ongoing efforts to promote a culture of mental well-being through innovative and non-traditional approaches.

A Sustained Project

Building on the strong positive feedback from participants, who described feeling “relief,” “mental clarity,” and “a sense of openness,” PHCC has decided to transform the initiative into a sustainable corporate project. The next phase will extend the program to six additional health centers.

Looking ahead, the project aims to integrate art as a complementary therapeutic tool within mental support clinics across more centers. This will strengthen human connection between patients and practitioners and foster a therapeutic environment that embraces emotions and nurtures individual creativity.

A Forward-Looking Vision for Holistic Health

This initiative reflects PHCC’s vision of harmonizing science with art, and treatment with creative expression, aligned with its strategic plan to enhance quality of life and promote mental health as an essential component of overall well-being.

With Phase Two now underway, PHCC reaffirms its commitment to expanding the experience to all health centers, engaging patients and medical staff, to embed the concept of “Art for Better Mental Health” as a key pillar of comprehensive care that addresses the human being in body, mind, and spirit.