Can literature improve our mental wellbeing?: Part 1

The University of Warwick has developed an online course investigating the relationship between literature and mental health. Their research looks particularly at whether literature can be used therapeutically to improve our mental wellbeing.

Can literature improve our mental wellbeing?: Part 1

As a lover of reading I was incredibly interested in how this might work. I have also done a lot of work on representations of 'madness' and mental health in literature in the past so I am keen to investigate the relationship in reverse.

What is even more important however is that this six week course is being offered free via Future Learn, an online course provider making it hugely accessible to the public, not just literature students. This came in the same week that Time to Change had their Time to Talk day, dedicated to beating the stigma around mental health.

The course deals with a different issue every week from stress to conditions like depression and bipolar. It also spans a range of literary forms, looking at poetry, plays and novels.

I have signed up to take the course as I am keen to see what I will learn from it and how I might be able to use my reading in a more beneficial way. I definitely think reading can help with managing stress and maybe with learning how to deal with more serious conditions too.

But equally I think it could have a negative effect. I remember how distraught I was after reading Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar a few years ago; I cried for hours and couldn't stop stressing over it for days. While it is an incredible book it should certainly only be read if you are in the right frame of mind to deal with some of the distressing issues it raises. So I also think it will be interesting to see how potentially damaging texts could be dealt with.

I will be blogging about my experience on the course and what I learn in the next few weeks so watch this space!


futurelearn.com/courses/literature

Author

Ellen Orange

Ellen Orange Contributor

I am a 24 year old Marketing Officer from the North East with a passion for arts and writing. I did a BA in English Literature and an MA in Twentieth and Twenty First Century Literature at Durham University, because I love books and reading! I have experience in writing for a variety of student publications, as well as having contributed to Living North, a regional magazine and Culture magazine, a supplement to regional newspaper, The Journal. I have been part of a Young Journalists scheme writing for NewcastleGateshead's Juice Festival, a young people's arts and culture festival, and have since become a Team Juice member. As well as reading and writing, I love theatre, photography and crafts.

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