Who needs pills when you have Monet and Van Gogh? Doctors in Neuchatel, Switzerland, are prescribing visits to museums, art galleries, and botanical gardens to help patients with mental health issues and chronic illnesses.
The pilot project, launched last month in the western Swiss city, aims to promote physical activity and improve emotional well-being.
“For people who sometimes have difficulties with their mental health, it allows them for a moment to forget their worries, their pain, their illnesses, and spend a joyful moment of discovery,” said Dr. Patricia Lehmann, one of the doctors involved in the program.
As part of the initiative, 500 prescriptions will be handed out, offering free visits to four locations: three museums and Neuchatel’s botanical garden. One lucky recipient, a 26-year-old woman battling burnout, shared her experience at the Neuchatel Museum of Art and History, home to works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and even a collection of automated dolls.
“I think it brings a little light into the darkness,” she said, choosing to remain anonymous.
The idea isn’t just a whimsical notion—it’s backed by research. A 2019 World Health Organization study highlighted the role of the arts in promoting health and managing illness. The COVID-19 lockdowns further underscored the importance of culture, as museum closures negatively impacted people’s well-being.
Julie Courcier Delafontaine, head of Neuchatel’s culture department, explained, “That was a real trigger, and we were really convinced that culture was essential for the well-being of humanity.”
The project will run for a year, with hopes of expanding to include activities like theatre. “We’d love this project to take off and have enough patients to prove its worth,” said Courcier Delafontaine. “And one day, why not, health insurance could cover culture as a form of therapy.”
So, next time you’re feeling down, maybe skip the pharmacy and head to the nearest museum. Who knew Monet could be just what the doctor ordered?
