{"id":8088,"date":"2026-04-10T10:52:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/arts-mental-health-legislation-unanimously-embraced-by-ga-house-saportareport\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:52:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:52:05","slug":"arts-mental-health-legislation-unanimously-embraced-by-ga-house-saportareport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/arts-mental-health-legislation-unanimously-embraced-by-ga-house-saportareport\/","title":{"rendered":"Arts-mental health legislation unanimously embraced by GA House – SaportaReport"},"content":{"rendered":"

SaportaReport<\/a>
\t\t\t\t\tValued voices share insights about Atlanta and beyond\t\t\t\t
BBefore the close of the 2026 legislative session, the Georgia House doubled down on a resolution supporting the arts as a way to treat mental illness.
The stage was set in mid-February when the House Special Rules committee<\/a> approved House Resolution 1007,<\/a> making Georgia the first state in the nation to pass a legislative measure linking the arts with mental health outcomes.
Then, on March 31, the full House voted on the resolution.
\u201cIt passed the full House unanimously,\u201d State Rep. Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta\/College Park) said in an interview Wednesday evening. \u201cWe believe, and we\u2019re hopeful, the governor is going to sign it.\u201d
Schofield, one of the leading sponsors of the resolution, called it \u201ca multi-layered\u201d approach.
\u201cWe are recognizing the arts as medicine when it comes to mental health,\u201d Schofield said. \u201cIt\u2019s a tool we can use to treat mental health. It\u2019s another avenue for medical practitioners.\u201d
Marcel Foster, founder of Atlanta-based Performance Hypothesis and a faculty member with the University of Florida\u2019s Center for Arts and Medicine, helped rally support for the resolution.
\u201cWhat happened in Georgia was nationally historic,\u201d Foster said, given the scope of the resolution. While 15 other states have licensing for creative art therapy, it\u2019s unique to have the legislation that Georgia passed.
Schofield said HR 1007 was just the first step.
\u201cIn the next legislative session, we will go back,\u201d she said. \u201cNext year, we will seek an appropriation. We want to be in the budget.\u201d
Doug Shipman, former president of the Atlanta City Council, recently became the president and CEO of the organization of South Arts. Shipman was also president and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center before he ran for president of the Atlanta City Council.
Shipman, who strongly supported HR 1007, said the heavy lifting was already underway when he got involved with the effort.
\u201cIt\u2019s good to see Georgia leading the national conversation connecting arts and health,\u201d Shipman said Thursday. \u201cWe must continue to work across our public, healthcare, nonprofit and arts sectors to develop and fund innovative programs.\u201d
Several efforts are underway in Georgia linking the arts to brain health, including the launch of the Georgia NeuroArts Coalition<\/a> by the Woodruff Arts Center. In addition to helping treat mental illness, the arts have been known to help elderly patients with dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s. Studies have also documented how the arts can improve educational outcomes for children and support brain development.
\u201cWe have to get others to see the value in these investments,\u201d Schofield said. \u201cWe want to bring all voices to the table.\u201d
Schofield commended her fellow representatives for their support, mentioning Mary Margaret Oliver (D- Decatur) and Todd Jones, (R-South Forsyth). Three of the co-sponsors were Democrats, and three were Republicans. \u201cThis is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. It\u2019s a people issue,\u201d Schofield said. \u201cGeorgia is leading with this initiative. We are going to get there.\u201d
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaria Saporta,\u00a0executive editor,\u00a0is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state.\u00a0From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns…\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMore by Maria Saporta\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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