Regional Council Conference Highlights the Role of Arts on Prescription in Promoting Mental Health

On April 24, members of the Regional Council in Norrbotten gathered for a full-day conference spotlighting key regional initiatives. Among the highlights was a compelling presentation on Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region – an innovative Interreg BSR project exploring the use of arts-based interventions to support mental health.

The Arts on Prescription (AoP) project team from Sweden, Sunderby Folk Highschool and Norrbotten Region, presented the background and scope of this Interreg project, sharing experiences and results from the pilot programme conducted in Norrbotten. The presentation emphasised AoP’s potential to boost mental well-being and reduce pressure on the healthcare system – an increasingly pressing concern as the region sees a rise in sick leave related to mental health.

Adding valuable perspective, Paula Bergman from Region Jönköping shared her region’s extensive experience with AoP and presented findings from her doctoral research: Health-Promoting Potential of Arts on Prescription: Studies of People on Sick Leave for Common Mental Disorders and/or Non-Specific Musculoskeletal Pain. Her insights underscored the effectiveness of AoP as a complementary approach to traditional medical treatment.

The event brought renewed attention to Arts on Prescription as a promising, evidence-informed model for enhancing quality of life and addressing mental health challenges throughout the Baltic Sea Region.

Programme Manual Online

Choose