The Youth Arts Gap: Creative Opportunities Are Essential For Teenagers’ Mental Health
On International Youth Day, National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is joining the global call to empower young people.
This year, we are highlighting the stark correlation between limited access to youth arts programs in parts of Wales, and the rising tide of mental health challenges among our teenagers. From Denbighshire to the Valleys, where arts funding is often scarce, young people are missing out on the wealth of creative opportunities that should bolster their wellbeing, resilience and futures. We are calling on the Welsh Government to bridgethis youth arts gap and ensure every Welsh teen has the chance to thrive.
Teenagers today face unprecedented mental health challenges. According to a 2021 UNICEF report, 13% of 15–24-year-olds globally experience mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression leading the way. In Wales, the picture is even worse. A 2023 Welsh Government survey found that 20% of secondary school students reported symptoms of anxiety, with rates higher in economically disadvantaged areas like parts of the South Wales Valleys and rural North Wales. During NYAW’s projects throughout Wales, we are regularly told by primary and secondary school teachers that the figures are even worse, with many estimating that over a third of school children have mental health issues.
The region with the highest reported mental health issues (often marked by underfunded schools and limited community resources) are also where the arts are least accessible - yet most needed. In areas with low arts investment, the absence of creative outlets leaves young people vulnerable, exacerbating mental health struggles.
At NYAW, we’ve seen firsthand how creativity transforms lives. We have a regular series of programmes and project aimed to reach young people in these “cold spots” of Wales. These include Strings Attached, Cor Skills, dance and theatre workshops, and (coming soon) our new Creative Futures project. We are working closely with partners including Public Health Wales, and their landmark Hapus programme.
The Evidence
A 2019 World Health Organization review of over 3,000 studies found that arts participation(whether through music, drama or visual arts) reduces depression, anxiety and stress while boosting self-esteem and social connection. For teenagers, whose brains are still developing, creative activities are like mental exercise, strengthening the prefrontal cortex, which governs problem-solving and emotional regulation.
A 2020 study in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence showed that teens engaged in creative pursuits, like writing or performing, reported lower stress levels and greater confidence. In Wales, where arts funding varies widely by region, the impact is clear.
Urban centres like Cardiff, Monmouth and Swansea offer robust arts programs, with schools and community centres hosting choirs, theatre groups and art classes. But in rural areas like Denbighshire or deprived communities in Blaenau Gwent, arts programmes are often the first to be cut when budgets tighten. Per capita arts funding in some rural local authorities is less than half that of urban areas, leaving teenagers in these regions with fewer opportunities to engage creatively.
This “Youth Arts Gap” has real consequences. A 2019 study in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts found that teens with access to arts programs had better mental health outcomes, including lower rates of anxiety and depression. In contrast, areas with limited arts access (often overlapping with economic deprivation) see higher incidences of mental health issues. In Wales, this disparity is stark: communities with the lowest arts investment, like parts of the Valleys, report some of the highest rates of youth mental health referrals.
Voices from Welsh Teenagers
The absence of arts opportunities isn’t just a statistic - it’s a lived reality for Welsh teens.
Across Wales, teens in underserved areas tell us that creative outlets, when available, are lifelines for navigating the pressures of adolescence. These opportunities strengthen social bonds, countering the isolation that often fuels mental health struggles; as well as benefiting their education, physical health and sheer happiness.
Equity and Access
The Youth Arts Gap in Wales is inseparable from broader inequalities. Low-income and rural areas, where arts funding is sparse, also face challenges like limited mental health services, long NHS waiting lists and overstretched schools. A 2022 study in The Lancet Public Health highlighted that socioeconomic deprivation, common in these regions, amplifies mental health risks. When arts programs are absent, teenagers lose a proven tool for coping, leaving them more vulnerable to stress and disconnection.
At NYAW, we believe every teenager deserves access to the arts, regardless of their postcode. Our mission is to provide world-class creative opportunities - but we can’t do it alone. Systemic change is needed to ensure equitable arts funding across Wales. The Welsh Government’s Wellbeing of Future Generations Act calls for a healthier, more equal nation - investing in youth arts may be the most direct way to achieve this.
National Youth Arts Wales urges policymakers, educators and communities to prioritise arts investment as a mental health strategy for Welsh teenagers. The arts are not a middle-class luxury - they’re a necessity for teenage wellbeing, for young people of every background. At NYAW, we’re committed to closing the Youth Arts Gap, but it takes collective action. This International Youth Day, let’s ensure every Welsh teenager has the chance to create, connect and flourish. Please join us in advocating for a Wales where no young person is left without a rich creative life.
Evan Dawson
CEO, National Youth Arts Wales
12 August 2025