San Diego health providers to write prescriptions for museums, theater and dance

Rates of depression and anxiety among young people in the U.S. have increased in recent years — it's been called a " ." Now, a novel approach to combat the issue, developed in the United Kingdom, is coming to San Diego. And it uses a very old kind of medicine.

Starting next month, mental health care providers at will begin writing prescriptions for arts and culture. With the help of a care navigator, teenage patients will be able to choose from activities at nearly 200 local arts organizations, including the Oceanside Museum of Art, The Old Globe and The Dancehouse.

The initiative, a collaboration between San Ysidro Health and the Atlanta-based company , is an example of " ." This type of treatment is still fairly uncommon in the U.S., but it has been blossoming in the United Kingdom for