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Why Every Hospital
Should
Have a Crafting Program
A group of women sitting around together to knit and crochet
while they cope with treatment for long-term illness sounds a bit like
something you’d expect to see in hippie commune, not something that would be
found in a modern hospital. It’s true; most hospitals today don’t have
organized craft programs for their patients. However, the few that do have
found that the benefits are massive, and even in those hospitals that don’t
offer such programs it is often possible to find people crafting on their own
as a means of improving their healing process.
Crochet, in particular, is a craft that lends itself well to
hospital settings. It is a craft that requires limited tools; it can be done
with just a crochet hook and a single ball of yarn. It is easy to put it down
and pick up right where you left off so it works if your illness causes you to
rest/ nap frequently or if you may be interrupted during your work for
treatment. It is an easy craft to learn, can be done by almost all ages and is
adaptable for use by people with various physical limitations.
The most important thing, though, is that crochet is able to
help with the healing process for a diverse array of both physical and mental
health conditions. Just a few examples include:
•
Pre-labor
anxiety and pains for patients on third trimester bed rest. Alta Bates
Summit Medical Center in California has a knit and crochet program for
mothers-to-be. The repetitive task of crochet helps releases serotonin, which
acts as a natural painkiller providing non-narcotic relief to these women. The
task is soothing, reducing anxiety and helping the woman to form a bond with
her unborn child.
•
Depression.
The serotonin release of the craft also acts as a natural anti-depressant. Additionally,
crochet helps boost self-esteem, provides a focused task for breaking the
negative cycle of rumination, reduces anxiety and encourages mindfulness, all
things which play a role in depression treatment.
•
High
blood pressure and related conditions. Dr. Herbert Bendon, the Director of
the Institute for Mind, Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital as well
as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School did research
that found that needlework lowers blood pressure by creating a relaxation
response in the body.
Individuals can utilize crochet for all of these things and
more, but the benefits are magnified when crafting is done in group settings.
The craft brings the group together around a safe, calming activity. This
encourages social connections, facilitates conversation, allows participants to
teach and learn from each other and creates group bonding, all of which lead to
a more positive outlook that in turn leads to better overall treatment success.
Crafting in hospitals can improve support groups, therapy sessions and the
morale of entire floors of patients.
Unfortunately, most hospitals aren’t set up for craft
groups. Those hospitals that do offer groups often have help from dedicated
volunteers and the support of key staff. Research has shown that settings where
occupational therapists are employed often have a higher rate of acceptance for
this type of group than those without OT staff. Still, with outcomes improved
for patients of all kinds when crafting is available, it makes sense for
hospital administration to consider implementing a plan that includes a little
bit of yarn.
This is a guest post
by Kathryn Vercillo of the blog Crochet
Concupiscence. She is the author
of Crochet Saved My Life, a
new book about the mental and physical health benefits of crochet.
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