In the US, a panel of medical experts recommended that doctors screen all adult patients under 65 for anxiety. The same panel made a similar recommendation for children and teenagers earlier this year. The guidance is intended to help prevent mental health disorders from going undetected and untreated.


Meanwhile, in Brussels, psychiatrists at the Brugmann Hospital have started offering patients free “museum prescriptions” to help treat anxiety. A similar programme has been in place with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts since 2018, driven by studies that show exposure to the arts increases levels of cortisol and serotonin, hormones responsible for our wellbeing.


From war and recession, to the climate crisis and the shadow of the pandemic, we could all use a boost to our mental health and wellbeing. Visit a museum or other cultural institution this weekend. Spending time in nature can help too.