A path to enhancing mental health and well-being

Mental health is an integral component of our overall quality of life, well-being, and productivity. It not only affects individuals on a personal level but also plays a crucial role in the resilience and strength of societies as a whole. 

Addressing mental health challenges has long been a priority, and traditional medical approaches have been the cornerstone of treatment. However, these approaches have their limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative strategies that can better cater to the diverse needs of individuals.

Limitations of traditional medical management for mental health problems

1. 1. An exclusively medical-oriented treatment may not meet all the needs of clients, especially their social needs.
2. 2. Non-compliance with pharmacological interventions for mental disorders is high, for example, due to side effects or social and self-stigma related to the use of antipsychotics.
3. 3. The prevalence of mental disorders in primary care is high, putting an additional workload on health care professionals.

The WHO Mental Health Action Plan

Recognising the complexity of mental health and its impact on individuals and societies, the World Health Organization developed a comprehensive mental health action plan, with one of the actions being to integrate care models for mental health in community-based settings.

Community-based sources of support attempt to reduce isolation and link people or communities. Programs may focus on one or more elements, such as nature (nature-based prescribing), exercise (exercise-based prescribing), or culture (culture-based prescribing). 

Understanding culture-based prescribing

Culture-based prescribing, where a person is referred to arts or cultural activities can create social solidarity and cohesion, reduce social isolation, and create opportunities to restore and enhance people’s sense of place.

Cultural activities, such as festivals, fairs, art and craft workshops, cultural heritage explorations, or museum visits may be an end in themselves or they may contribute to the production of cultural goods and services.

The diverse nature of culture-based prescribing

The concept of culture-based prescribing is diverse and varied, encompassing a range of definitions, underlying theories, activity types, and their potential intersections within the field. This diversity poses challenges to the effective advancement and adoption of culture-based prescribing approaches.

Therefore, there is a need to explore the available evidence on culture-based prescribing. It is timely to explore culture-based prescribing given the increasing interest and adoption of this intervention. This exploration can offer valuable insights and inspiration for healthcare practitioners interested in culture-based prescribing. 

Mapping the landscape

A scoping review is underway to investigate what is known about culture-based prescribing as a means to improve mental health. The review seeks to answer questions such as, What populations are targeted with culture-based prescribing? What theories and frameworks are used to underpin studies on culture-based prescribing? Which assessments (process and outcomes) are used to evaluate culture-based prescribing?

By mapping the evidence, the scoping review can help create a solid foundation for shaping how approach is implemented into practice and develop policies around it. This will ultimately help to achieve the best possible outcomes for the well-being of individuals seeking help.

The protocol for the scoping review is available in the August 2023 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis

Culture-based prescribing to improve mental health: a scoping review protocol

Bekkering, Geertruida E.; Corremans, Marleen; Gemignani, Marco; Gerber, Nancy; Godderis, Lode; Kaewma, Sumuttana; Khammathit, Adchara; Steel, Jonas; Hannes, Karin

JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(8):p 1679-1686, August 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00211