Introduction: Arts therapies' response to the global crisis of depression: current research and future developments

This chapter introduces the variety of research compiled in this publication, drawing on a number of philosophical and methodological perspectives to offer a coherent, albeit diverse and complex, picture of arts therapies research and practice with clients experiencing depression at different stages of their lives. The need for a meaningful and natural connection between evidence-based theory and practice is highlighted and a brief synthesis of the main themes and insights within individual chapters is offered. The chapter suggests future directions in research and discusses arts therapies’ contribution to the treatment of depression and the creation of healthy environments for improved wellbeing.