MDs can issue prescriptions for visits to MMFA
As of Nov. 1, physicians can prescribe free admission to fine arts museum
Art heals.
That’s the philosophy behind a new initiative from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which will soon allow doctors to prescribe a visit to a museum.
“There’s more and more scientific proof that art therapy is good for your physical health,” said Dr. Hélène Boyer, vice-president of Médecins francophones du Canada and the head of the family medicine group at the CLSC StLouis-du-Parc. “It increases our level of cortisol and our level of serotonin. We secrete hormones when we visit a museum and these hormones are responsible for our well-being.
“People tend to think this is only good for mental health issues. That it’s for people who are depressed or who have psychological problems. But that’s not the case. It’s good for patients with diabetes, for patients in palliative care, for people with chronic illness.
“Since the ’80s we’ve been prescribing exercise for our patients because we know exercise increases exactly the same hormones. But when I have patients who are over 80, it’s not obvious that I can prescribe exercise for them.”
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts announced Thursday that as of Nov. 1, physicians who are members of Médecins francophones du Canada will be able to send patients on visits to the MMFA, allowing patients, accompanied by caregivers or family members, to enjoy the health benefits of a free trip to see some art.
The museum says the one-year pilot project is the first such initiative in the world.
It will be used to deal with a wide variety of physical and mental health problems.
Thomas Bastien, director of education and wellness at the Museum of Fine Arts, notes the museum has been working with the medical community for 20 years to try to use art to help their patients. But this will be the first time the doctors can make museum prescriptions.
“We saw that the museum was good for people, so we decided to start this program with the doctors,” Bastien said. “If you’re suffering from breast cancer, you could come to the museum and you might feel better.”
Doctors will each be able to assign up to 50 museum prescriptions over the course of the pilot project. Each prescription will allow entry for up to two adults and two children age 17 or under.
There are some anglophone doctors, who work in English and French, who are members of Médecins francophones du Canada.
It increases our level of cortisol and our level of serotonin. We secrete hormones when we visit a museum and these hormones are responsible for our well-being.