Poem Writing Sessions to Enhance Mental Well-Being and Happiness in Adult Volunteers Serving People Recovering from Mental Illness

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how writing Chinese poems affects the well-being of adult volunteers who serve people recovering from mental illness in Hong Kong. The study uses a single-arm design with 30 participants and focuses on mental well-being and happiness as primary outcomes. It also looks at feasibility measures like recruitment and retention rates, along with secondary outcomes such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, and interest in poem writing. Participants will take part in two poem writing sessions, each lasting three hours, led by experienced Chinese teachers or drama directors. The poems will focus on themes of accomplishment, joy, and gratitude. During the sessions, participants are encouraged to write, improve, and share their poems, including a reading performance in the second session. The instructors will evaluate the use of a poem writing app and participants feelings after the classes. Throughout the study, mental well-being and happiness will be measured at baseline and then at 2, 4, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Other assessments include depressive symptoms, knowledge and interest in poem writing, and the number of poems successfully written. In-depth interviews will gather qualitative data to better understand participants experiences. The total study duration includes follow-up measures up to 12 weeks, with data analyzed descriptively to assess the feasibility of this poem writing approach.

Chinese Poem Writing for Improving Mental Wellbeing