Mental patients to be treated with art

DECCA AITKENHEAD

Patients with mental health problems are to be prescribed painting, sculpting and creative writing on the NHS, instead of drugs. "Arts On Prescription", a radical new scheme launched this week, will enable doctors to treat depression and anxiety by sending chronic sufferers to art classes.

A pilot scheme is to begin in various economically deprived areas of Manchester. Participating GPs, consultants, community psychiatric nurses and social workers will refer patients who suffer from mental health complaints like panic attacks to an Arts and Mental Health Nurse. The patients will then be offered a range of art classes, from drama and dance to ceramics and photography, and, after consultation, be prescribed a 10- week course.

Like any other NHS medical treatment, the art classes will be free. Annual costs of pounds 10,000 will be met jointly by Stockport Health Authority and the local council.

"People find these sorts of expressive activities, done in a group, give them a chance to develop their confidence and self-esteem, and give them a social contact at a level they are comfortable," a community mental health team spokeswoman said.

"Mental ill-health is a huge burden on the NHS, and shows itself through many physical and mental problems. This treatment gets us out of looking at everything from a problem-based viewpoint."

A typical patient, she said, would be a woman with a family and little time to herself, struggling with relationship difficulties and suffering from low self-esteem, insomnia and lack of motivation. "You can give her a dose of Prozac and hope she'll get better, but you are never going to solve the problem unless you tackle how she deals with her life."

The severely disturbed and suicidal will not be eligible for the classes, to be taught by artists with no medical training in local church halls and social clubs. Schizophrenics and manic depressives in a stable condition may take part, though.

Arts On Prescription was inspired by an earlier Manchester project, Exercise On Prescription, where GPs prescribed free sessions in the gym or the swimming pool to patients with coronary problems. Participants reported that the greatest improvements had been to mental rather than physical well-being, and demand grew for arts-based activities.