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Art on Prescription in individuals at risk of suicide: A pilot study
Emma Sebti1, Elodie Michel2, Elia Gourguechon-Buot1
1Inserm, IGF, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHU of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France.
Objectives:
Mental health disorders and suicidal behaviors are a major public health issue worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social prescribing initiatives such as Art on Prescription aim to integrate artistic activities into healthcare to promote well-being and reduce depressive symptoms. This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of an Art on Prescription program on individuals at risk of suicide.
Methods:
An AoP program was implemented in Montpellier coordinated by the Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Acute Care at Montpellier University Hospital, in partnership with MO.CO. (Montpellier Contemporain). Fifty-one adults, referred after an emergency visit for suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt, were enrolled between 2022 and 2024. The program was delivered through five successive cycles. Each participant was enrolled in one cycle only, led by an artist, and included one museum visit followed by five weekly creative sessions. Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and well-being (WEMWBS, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale) were assessed at the end of each of the five creative sessions. Wilcoxon tests and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used for analysis.
Results:
Among the 29 participants with complete data from the first to the fifth creative sessions, a significant improvement in well-being was observed (mean WEMWBS increase: +2.24; P=0.02), whereas the decrease in depressive symptoms was not statistically significant (PHQ-9: -0.79; P=0.12). In the full sample (n=51), the comparison between the first and third creative sessions showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms (-0.65; P=0.05), but a non-significant increase in well-being (+1.22; P=0.11). GEE models confirmed a significant negative association between PHQ-9 and WEMWBS scores (β=-1.1; P<0.001), with no significant effect of time or interaction.
Conclusions:
The Art on Prescription program appears to have a positive impact on well-being and depressive symptoms in individuals at risk of suicide. These findings support the potential value of innovative, non-pharmacological interventions as a complement to traditional psychiatric care, aligned with recovery-oriented approaches.
