Changes in mental health during participation in Art Pharmacy: a longitudinal study of a U.S. arts-based social prescribing program

Introduction: Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly recognized as public health challenges linked to higher health care costs and poor health outcomes. As mental health needs continue to outpace the availability of behavioral health resources, there is growing need for cost-effective, widely accessible, whole-person approaches, such as social prescribing.

Methods: This study examines changes in self-reported mental health during participation in Art Pharmacy, a US-based social prescribing program, among adults referred through health care and community partners. We analyzed changes in mental health over time using a quasi-experimental single-group longitudinal design. The primary outcome was mental health and psychological wellbeing measured with the WHO-5 Wellbeing Index. Generalized estimating equations examined changes across follow-ups.

Results: WHO-5 scores increased significantly over time. In baseline-adjusted analysis (n = 239), WHO-5 scores increased at all follow-ups (p