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The arts doctor is in. You can now step out of yourself

Far from being non-essential, arts activities can improve mental health and well-being. 

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The arts provide a very different way of being and feeling.

The arts provide a very different way of being and feeling.

PHOTO: THE TENG COMPANY

Clarissa Oon

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It was not your usual workshop icebreaker. We were asked to introduce ourselves not by our job titles, but to share a word describing how we felt as we entered the room. 

It set the tone for a day of divesting the many hats we wear and the burdens we carry. I was among some 50 participants at the recent Intermission, a well-being day for those working in the arts, organised annually by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay since 2023 after Covid-19. As it was my first time guided by professionals who use the arts for therapy and positive social change, I entered the workshops totally unsure of what to expect. 

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