Cultural wellbeing

At the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, research on the wellbeing effects of arts and culture, the cultural aspects of health and illness, various forms of art therapy and the therapeutic value of art is conducted at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Key concepts n research on the relationship between culture, health and wellbeing include the wellbeing effects of arts and culture, cultural wellbeing, cultural mental health research, historically and culturally changing conceptions of illness and health, arts-based research, music therapy, bibliotherapy, writing therapy, applied arts, spatial relations, emotions and affect, representations and discourses. 

The Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences collaboratively established the Cultural wellbeing research and education centre (CuWeRE) in 2023. CuWeRE aims to develop and renew the multidisciplinary field connected to creativity, arts, health and wellbeing in Finland by furthering its research-oriented approach as well as the quality of higher education.

Read more about CuWeRe

The Academy-funded Center of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brains (2022-2029) and Center of Excellence in Game Cultures (2018-2025) operate at the University's Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies. The relationship between art and wellbeing has been approached from numerous perspectives, including psychosocial development, therapy and rehabilitation. The Department also offers a course that introduces students to the interconnectedness of art and wellbeing.

The Department of History and Ethnology has a health and wellbeing research group, which examines questions concerning health, illness and healing in different times and cultures. Additionally, the University is home to the multidisciplinary Cultural Mental Health research network. 

Relevant research projects

Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain

Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain (CoEMMBB)

A dynamic research consortium studying music as a multimodal human experience and as a versatile engine of change.
Centre of Excellence in Game Culture studies logo
Project

The Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies

The Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies is a joint project between researchers from the Tampere University, University of Turku, and the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. Across these institutions, over 30 researchers from the humanities, social sciences
puzzle pieces
Research group

Equity Team

A group of teachers and researchers interested in issues connected to equity and social justice at and beyond JYU.

Wellbeing and creative therapies

At the interface of everyday well-being and clinical practice, the importance of therapeutic writing will be explored from different perspectives.
Multiell-hankkeen kuvaus piirroksena
Project

MultiELL - Redesigning Early Foreign Language Learning through Multiliteracies

Suomen Akatemian rahoittama hanke varhaisen kielenopetuksen uudistamisesta
Science news
19.9.2024

Cross-Cultural Collaboration: JYU and EdUHK Unite to Explore the Power of Music and Physical Activity for Mental Wellbeing

Researchers from the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ (JYU) and the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) have joined forces to explore how music and physical activity can be integrated to improve mental health and wellbeing.