Churchill Sent Me " Standup comedy and Arts REcovery "

Using art to help people heal is becoming very popular in the UK. Doctors are even giving out “Arts on Prescription” recommending creative activities to help people who are feeling lonely or struggling with their mental health. This isn’t meant to replace regular medicine, but rather to act as an extra boost to help people get better alongside it. People who try these programs say it makes them feel much more confident and helps them feel connected to their community. Even official government reports agree that it is a great idea for maintaining health.

However, there is a big hurdle: the healthcare system wants hard numbers and strict scientific proof before they will pay for it. On top of that, money is very tight. When the NHS has to choose between buying new, life-saving medicines or funding art classes, the art programs struggle to get the money they need.

Because the government isn’t funding it, charities are stepping in to do most of the work.

In the end, while everyone involved agrees that art helps people feel better, we need more strict scientific studies to prove it with numbers before it can become a standard, fully-funded part of our healthcare system.