Future images: an art intervention with suicidal adolescents

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Art Therapy
• Adolescent Psychiatry

Background:

• Suicidal adolescents often experience low self-esteem and a diminished future time perspective.
• Hospitalization presents a critical juncture for therapeutic intervention in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an Art Future-Image Intervention (AFI) for hospitalized suicidal adolescents.
• To assess AFI's impact on self-esteem, future time perspective, and depression.

Main Methods:

• A pretest-posttest time series design was employed.
• Two groups were utilized: an experimental group receiving AFI and an attention placebo group.
• Measures included self-esteem, future time perspective, and depression levels.

Main Results:

• The experimental group demonstrated greater positive changes compared to the placebo group.
• Both groups showed improvement in all measured aspects during and after hospitalization.
• The experimental group had a shorter hospitalization duration (p = .08).

Conclusions:

• The Art Future-Image Intervention (AFI) shows promise in improving mental health outcomes for hospitalized suicidal adolescents.
• Participant enthusiasm and positive follow-up comments support further investigation and refinement of AFI.
• The intervention's potential benefits warrant continued research and development.