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

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.

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.

WHO-5 scores increased significantly over time. In baseline-adjusted analysis (n = 239), WHO-5 scores increased at all follow-ups (p < 0.001), with peak mean increases of 18-20 points at follow-ups 6-8 and sustained through follow-up 9. Increases exceeded the 10-point threshold for meaningful change on the WHO-5. Baseline WHO-5 scores predicted follow-up levels and participants showed similar improvement trajectories. Similar patterns were observed in demographic-adjusted sensitivity analysis (n = 145). Age, race, and ethnicity were not significantly associated with follow-up wellbeing scores, and treatment duration did not show additional associations beyond program progression.

Findings suggest that participation in an arts-based social prescribing program was associated with improvements in mental health over time. The results contribute preliminary evidence of an association between participation in arts-based social prescribing and health, and support the need for further evaluation of social prescribing in controlled studies.