When Art Becomes Medicine: San Diego Launches First Arts-Based Metal Health Pilot

On July 9, the courtyard in San Ysidro Health’s Maternal & Child Health Center filled with artists, health providers, local funders, and community leaders for something San Diego has never seen before: the launch of an arts-based social prescribing pilot.

Led by Art Pharmacy and in partnership with San Ysidro Health, the pilot is the result of nearly two years of planning through Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties’ Arts & Intersections Collaborative, a space where funders explore how the arts can partner with other sectors, like health and education, to solve complex challenges. The vision came from a simple, but radical question: what if doctors could prescribe creative expression as a tool for healing?

The vision is now taking shape. Beginning this fall, 250 young people between the ages of 12 and 25 experiencing anxiety, depression, or social isolation will receive their first “arts prescriptions.” Referred by their healthcare providers, they will be connected to community-based arts experiences, ranging from dance and visual art to storytelling, music, and movement. These experiences are more than just enriching; they serve as early interventions that can help young people build connection, emotional resilience, and coping skills. Exposing young people to creative solutions and interventions gives them a license to access their own creativity, potentially incubating a whole new generation of artists and creatives. Arts prescriptions can also help to reduce downstream healthcare costs by intervening before young adults experience full mental health crises.

At the event, Dr. Priti Ojha of San Ysidro Health took the podium to describe what she sees in the clinic, including adolescents still navigating the emotional toll of the pandemic, often without the support they need. She explained how this new program will offer a culturally responsive, strengths-based approach to care by connecting youth to San Diego’s vibrant network of artists and arts organizations, many of whom are already doing work to support mental wellness.

Chris Appleton, CEO of Art Pharmacy, also noted that while physicians have long encouraged creative activities to support mental health, this pilot takes it a step further by bringing structure, research, and cross-sector partnerships to formally integrate the arts into care. Art Pharmacy provides the infrastructure and care navigation needed to operationalize what many doctors already informally recommend by helping connect patients to arts experiences tailored to their needs and interests. The program also tracks outcomes, generating the data needed to demonstrate impact and make the case for future integration with insurance systems, laying the groundwork for sustainability beyond philanthropic support.

Matt D’Arrigo of the Clare Rose Foundation spoke to the long-term potential of the initiative: a future where artists and arts organizations are formally recognized as community health workers and reimbursed for their role in improving mental health outcomes. He reflected on how this vision began to crystallize through Catalyst’s Arts & Intersections Collaborative, where funders, artists, and healthcare leaders came together to explore new models of care. He shared how this program has the power to reshape how we support youth well-being, not just in San Diego, but as a model for systems change across the country.

The initiative is now open for enrollment, and for local arts organizations, the opportunity is simple yet powerful, and they won’t need to change what they’re already doing. By joining the initiative, they’ll be recognized as part of a formal care network and get support to engage young people through the creative practices they offer. For more information on how to enroll, contact Kamaal Martin.

A coalition of funders, including the Clare Rose Foundation, The Prebys Foundation, The Samuel Lawrence Foundation, Latatorre Foundation, Avila Fund, and the Parker Foundation, is currently funding the launch phase, and the goal is to expand beyond philanthropy and be supported by major healthcare providers. Any funders interested in learning more about this work can also contact Kamaal Martin.

This project is a powerful example of what is possible when philanthropy works across sectors, listens to community, and invests in bold ideas. This isn’t just a pilot, it’s a reimagining of how we care for one another. We’re proud to have helped bring this work to life, and we’re excited to support what comes next.