Dance and Mental Health: the Therapeutic Experience of Mental Patients at Pantang Psychiatric Hospital, Pantang, Ghana.

Abstract

This research explores dance movement as a mechanism for creative intervention in mental health cases. The paper is based on a community dance project involving patients of the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital and examines ways in which patients‟ engagement with creative dance movement can serve as a coping mechanism and possibly facilitate recovery. The paper will present key findings from the project which suggest that some mentally challenged patients can benefit by taking part in creative dance activities that are geared towards improving their physical abilities and co-ordination.