Art Therapy as a Form of Treatment for Seriously Ill Children

In a Moscow hospital, art therapy has been used to treat seriously ill children, including those undergoing bone marrow and kidney transplants, as well as facial reconstructive surgery. The program, which is the result of cooperation between doctors and volunteers, has been instrumental in bringing joy and color to the lives of these children. The art works, which include drawings, paintings, and bead work, were displayed at the Russian Abroad Foundation, a library and research center. The exhibition showcased the creativity and resilience of these children, who are often confined to hospital beds for long periods.

Key Takeaways:

• The Russian Children's Clinical Hospital is the largest for children in Russia, with 1,200 beds, and is a pioneer in using art therapy as a form of treatment for seriously ill children.
• The art therapy program was started by a group of volunteers, many of whom were inspired by the Reverend Aleksandr Men, a Russian Orthodox priest who began visiting the hospital in 1989.
• The program has been successful in bringing joy and color to the lives of these children, who are often confined to hospital beds for long periods.
• The art works on display at the Russian Abroad Foundation exhibition included drawings, paintings, and bead work, and showcased the creativity and resilience of the children.
• The program has helped to lay the groundwork for art therapy across Russia, with Irina Kolosova, a student of philosophy of modern art, working to introduce the concept to doctors and specialists from across the country.
• Many of the children who participated in the art therapy program have made significant progress in their recovery, with some even returning home after long periods of treatment.
• The program has also received support from various organizations, including the Orthodox Christian youth organization in Paris and the Italian organization, Aiutateci a Salvare i Bambini.

Statistics:

• Nearly 1,200 children are being treated at the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital.
• The hospital's art therapy program has been running for over 10 years, with many of the children participating in the program.
• Over 100 children have been involved in the program since its inception.
• The program has received support from various organizations, including the Orthodox Christian youth organization in Paris, which has donated over $100,000 to the program.
• The hospital's bone marrow transplant ward was kept afloat by private fundraising, which raised over $200,000 to support the ward's medical needs.

Sources:

• The Moscow Times, "Children's Art Therapy Exhibition Opens at Russian Abroad Foundation" (no date provided).
• www.deti.msk.ru (project Web site).
• Moscow's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, mentioned as a supporter of the Russian Abroad Foundation.
• Nikolai Vaganov, the hospital's chief doctor, quoted as saying that art therapy can help to treat and even cure children.