Mischa Barton is working on her debut folk album. (Insert Punchline Here…)

Bauer-Griffin

Fresh off an “involuntary psychiatric hold” at Cedars-Sinai Medical in July, The Beautiful Life star, 23, is reportedly hoping to kick of her recording career by releasing a disc of original folk-rock songs early next year.

“Music has been a lifesaver for Mischa,” an insider spills to The National Enquirer. “These days whenever she gets depressed or lonely, Mischa scribbles down lyrics, practices chords, and works on her voice. She’s determined to emerge from her crisis with her own CD and an expanded career.”

The London-born Bob Dylan wannabe has immersed herself in songwriting for the LP and is even practicing strumming on the guitar, an instrument she fell in love with during her romance with Rooney rocker Taylor Locke.

“She spends her free time writing and banging out her songs on her acoustic guitar.”