Brussels Tests Cultural Visits To Treat Anxiety (theguardian.com) 14
Psychiatrists in Brussels can now prescribe free visits to cultural venues to people suffering from depression, stress or anxiety. The Guardian reports: Delphine Houba, a Brussels deputy mayor in charge of culture, believes the project is the first of its kind in Europe. The first objective is to reinforce access to culture after the pressured days of lockdown, she told the Observer. "I want everybody back in our cultural institutions... but we know that, even before Covid, for some people it [was] not easy to open the door of a museum, they don't feel at ease, they don't think that it's for them. And I really want to show that cultural venues are for everybody." The second goal, she said, is to give doctors "a new tool in the healing process." The young socialist politician was inspired by a similar project in Canada, where doctors have been issuing prescriptions to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts since 2018.
In Brussels, the pilot project is running for six months, involving five museums that are directly under the control of city authorities. These include the city's history museum, a centre for contemporary art, and the fashion and lace museum. Patients may also discover the sewer museum, which allows them to stroll 10 meters underground along the banks of the Senne, the hidden river of Brussels, largely paved over in the 19th century. Or they could explore the collection of outfits belonging to the Manneken Pis, the statue of a peeing boy that has become a symbol of Belgium's self-deprecating humor
"Anything could have therapeutic value if it helps people get a good feeling and get in touch with themselves," said Dr Johan Newell, a psychiatrist at Brugmann University Hospital, which is taking part in the pilot scheme. He expects museum prescriptions would suit people suffering from depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, psychosis and bipolar disorder. "I think almost anyone could benefit from it," he said. "It would probably be more adapted for people who are already a little bit further on in the recovery process," rather than those who are severely ill, he said. Museum prescriptions, Newell stressed, were a voluntary addition to medication, psychotherapy, individual or group therapy, as well as exercise, healthy eating and other forms of relaxation. "It's just one extra tool that could help people get out of the house: to resocialize, reconnect with society." Newell suggests that the pilot could eventually be expanded to include other museums, cinemas, hospitals and groups of patients.
In Brussels, the pilot project is running for six months, involving five museums that are directly under the control of city authorities. These include the city's history museum, a centre for contemporary art, and the fashion and lace museum. Patients may also discover the sewer museum, which allows them to stroll 10 meters underground along the banks of the Senne, the hidden river of Brussels, largely paved over in the 19th century. Or they could explore the collection of outfits belonging to the Manneken Pis, the statue of a peeing boy that has become a symbol of Belgium's self-deprecating humor
"Anything could have therapeutic value if it helps people get a good feeling and get in touch with themselves," said Dr Johan Newell, a psychiatrist at Brugmann University Hospital, which is taking part in the pilot scheme. He expects museum prescriptions would suit people suffering from depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, psychosis and bipolar disorder. "I think almost anyone could benefit from it," he said. "It would probably be more adapted for people who are already a little bit further on in the recovery process," rather than those who are severely ill, he said. Museum prescriptions, Newell stressed, were a voluntary addition to medication, psychotherapy, individual or group therapy, as well as exercise, healthy eating and other forms of relaxation. "It's just one extra tool that could help people get out of the house: to resocialize, reconnect with society." Newell suggests that the pilot could eventually be expanded to include other museums, cinemas, hospitals and groups of patients.
Therapeutic Session (Score:2)
"And what are the causes of your depression?"
"My wife locked out all the sports channels. It's all news and ARTE now."
"Then you might find my next move quite ironic."
Re: (Score:2)
"My wife locked out all the sports channels. It's all news and ARTE now."
ARTE?
Can only happen to German and French husbands.
And Luxembourgian ones.
Seriously? (Score:2)
Those sound like they would make a depressed person even more depressed.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
There are different kinds of museums. A museum of degenerate modern "art" can make you die to facepalming damage. A museum of medieval weapons brings joy.
Re: (Score:2)
There are over 200 different museums available on Belgium's Museum Pass [museumpassmusees.be].
Some notable museums include the TinTin/Herge museum, the museum of Tapestry, Strawberry museum, Autoworld Brussels (I enjoyed that one. Some early 1900s US cars, including 1916 electric.), Flanders Fields museum, Bicycle museum, musical instruments, and of course, the Beer Museum. [beermuseum.be]
Re: (Score:2)
.., Flanders Fields museum, ...
Just make sure they aren't abusers of opiates before you send them there...
Submission is wrong (Score:2)
Psychiatrists in Brussels may now prescribe the ingestion of Brussels sprouts as a treatment for anxiety. Although, as the local medical board pointed out, for some people this may provoke even more anxiety.
Introvert's Nightmare (Score:3)
As an introvert, if I suffered from "depression, stress or anxiety", having to go out and socialise would be the last nail to my coffin. I would simply climb up to the top of the highest point at the exposition and jump.
Re: (Score:2)
They're talking about CULTURAL venues. Not partying venues.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The idea is to provide a safe space that people suffering from anxiety can visit. The anxiety causes them to want to avoid social situations they think will be stressful or embarrassing, so knowing that the museum is safe and won't result in those things is very helpful.
It's an ideal place really. You can be as quiet as you like, around other people but you don't have to talk to them, no fixed schedule to adhere to, come and go as you please. Often this kind of anxiety is because of an embarrassing medical
A visit to a Belgian brewery (Score:1)
Geddit ? Geddit ?