The Montreal Museum Fine Arts in Canada has teamed with a group doctors to help sick people. The doctors will prescribe visits to Montreal's art galleries, instead giving them medicine. The museum is currently taking part 10 trials on patients to find out what effect art has health. The patients include people with breast cancer, eating disorders, epilepsy and mental health problems. Thomas Bastien, director education and wellness at the museum, believes that art heals. He said: "We saw that the museum was good people, so we decided to start this program the doctors. If you're suffering breast cancer, you could come to the museum and you might feel better."
A doctor who has a lot experience in helping to heal people art spoke about the benefits art therapy. Dr Hélène Boyer said: "There's more and more scientific proof that art therapy is good your physical health." She said looking art increases hormones released our bodies. These hormones are responsible for our well-being. Dr Boyer said visiting art galleries released the same kinds hormones that are released when we exercise. Nathalie Bondil, the museum's director-general, said physical activity and art gave similar health benefits. She said: "I am convinced that the 21st century, [art] will be what physical activity was health the 20th century."
