We often think about art as an activity we do for a break, a form of entertainment or as a distraction. While this might be true for many of us, art is not limited to being something we do just for fun. It has been and is a part of our daily lives. Imagine yourself listening to a song you deeply resonate with. Or watching a performance that has moved you. Or sitting down and colouring, allowing yourself to be in the present as you watch the colours all merge. Art benefits our well-being. Emotional well-being doesn’t mean the absence of unpleasant emotions. Rather, it is our ability to accept and understand our emotions in a healthy way. Art can serve as a powerful tool to help express ideas, thoughts and emotions. It allows us to experience the wholeness of our humanness as we try and navigate our ways in life. When we talk about art-based techniques, we’re referring to using visual art, like painting and drawing, dance/movement, music, drama and even writing. These techniques don’t require you to learn a special skill. When we engage in art, we interact with it through our senses. It stimulates our bodies and mind to feel, reflect and create. There are huge socioeconomic and cultural barriers in accessing mental health support. The arts are direct ways to open possibilities for people to feel seen or heard, to express themselves. In this module, we will be using arts-based tools to facilitate your exploration of your thoughts and feelings. There is no right or wrong way to go about this. And you don’t require material that isn’t already available to you. Whether it’s through sound, the body, visual art or words, please explore to whatever extent you can and feel comfortable to. You can always reach out to us if you’re unclear about how to go about something, we’re here to support you as you go through this module.