Mental Health and Colour Psychology

Designing a colour palette that fits both the narrative and the audience.
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Yellow

Yellow promotes: Uplifting, cleansing, self-respect, self-confidence, self-control, ability to rationalise and reason, contentment, mentally stimulating
Yellow is good for: Depression, despair, fatigue, negativity, sensitivity to criticism, lack of confidence (avoid in insomnia, hyperactivity)

Gold promotes: Enthusiasm, balancing thoughts and feelings, wisdom
Gold is good for: Depression (especially during menopause), stress, anxiety

Orange promotes: Stimulates body and mind, self-esteem, optimism, inner strength, creativity, self-expression, happiness, opens mind to new ideas and perspectives, revitalising
Orange is good for: Depression, negativity, trauma, stress, bereavement and loss
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​"The colour yellow exudes brightness, light, vitality, energy, optimism, willingness to grow and outshine. Sun stars sunflower are the objects that most are associated with the colour yellow."
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"Yellow can be a bold color choice when it is bright, or soft and charming when it is pale.
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Using yellow is like offering an illumined beacon, or a single flame from a candle. In nature yellow reminds us not only of the luminosity of the sun, but also of brisk tasty lemons, chrysanthemums, and butterflies. The forecast yellow is soft with an “inner glow.”"
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​Blue

Blue promotes: Calm, peace, relaxation, slowing down, steadying, self-expression, intuition, honesty, truth, creativity
Blue is good for: Insomnia, stress, anxiety, over-excitement, anger

Turquoise promotes: Calm, cleansing, healing, personal relationships, sharing, friendship, resilience
Turquoise is good for: Stress, anxiety, anger
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"Historically, blue is linked to positivity, harmony, spirituality, peace, calm, and tranquility. The most frequent blue associations occur in nature: Picture the placid surface of a blue lake undisturbed by the wind, or the rippling, impressionistic blue surface of the ocean. Of course, these visual impressions are also associated with acoustic elements. Evening waves, for example, can provide a deep soothing sound conducive to sleep.

The color most beneficial in making people feel calm and relaxed is blue. In designing spaces for those with anxiety, a variety of blues ranging from the clarity of sky blue to the greened blue of turquoise can be utilized. Studies have shown that brighter colors: whites, light grays, and lighter colors, are found to be more pleasant, less arousing, and less dominance-inducing than less bright colors: dark grays, blacks, and darker colors.

Creating color combinations within the context of traditional color associations is really the best approach. The forecast blue is deep and rich, a true blackened navy without a hint of gray. It combines well with the newly forecast pale, luminescent, slightly greened yellow, clear celery green, or a grayed, richly forested green."
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Green

Green promotes: Balance, harmony, personal development, self-acceptance, compassion for self and others, renewal
​Green is good for: Stress, anxiety, self-pity, confusion
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"Green is one of various colors that can be beneficial to reduce anxiety and bring about a calmer state of mind.

It has been said that green is the only color that is electromagnetically neutral. Historically emblematic greens are: the playful green on Sevres porcelain, Green Bay Packers’ jerseys, the abundance of jade greens, the olives of Italy and Greece with their sensual aromas and oils, mountain streams, and lily pads.
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Green is natural to forests both primeval and modern. Fresh grass is green, as are lively grasshoppers, frogs, and parrots. Many currencies use green as an identifying color. Of course, green is also the color of mold, slime, and aging copper. The context within which the color is used is essential to its implications. Exposure to the natural environment and natural light improves the well-being of patients.
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Greens are emblematic of new bud growth, new beginnings, and the strength of malachite and green granite. Views of nature also help patients focus on a world beyond their own problems and nemeses. A peaceful view of snow-capped mountain ranges sprinkled with fir trees can be beneficial to patients and caregivers alike."
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Pink

"Pink is theoretically found in the red family, but retains primary implications of its own. Combined sensitively and appropriately it is very useful in healthcare to decrease aggression. The pale dusty pink of ballet slippers is soft and non-aggressive. It is a forecast color that meets the softness and energy we seek in our positive personal relationships.
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One study found that an anxiety producing story on pink paper was less anxiety producing than when read on blue or white paper. Able to be used as a natural floral accent to augment a completed interior, pink’s color range can run the gamut from fuchsia and orange-toned pinks to the whispered powdery pinks of makeup and chiffon."
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