QF’s art therapy to help fight depression in kids

A Qatar Foundation partner university is leading efforts to develop a pilot program in Telehealth Art Therapy to address the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in Qatar.

Led by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and funded by Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Qatar National Research Fund – the project will focus on is national identity.

In collaboration with the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), the project will use the museum’s artifacts to offer children virtual opportunities to explore their history and roots, while also aiming to counteract some of the effects of social distancing and isolation.

Led by Professor Weber, an arts-in-health specialist, the project will bring together an international team of art psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and physicians in Qatar and the UK to conduct the research. Michelle Dixon, Art Therapist at Sidra Medicine, also a member of QF, will serve as a co-principal investigator of the project and will facilitate the online art therapy sessions. The initial group to benefit from this project will consist of adolescents at Sidra Medicine.

Sahar Saad, Museum Development Specialist at NMoQ, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with QF on this project that will allow us to use our resources to make a positive impact on children in Qatar.