A £5.77m government-funded project has shown that expanding access to green social prescribing can boost wellbeing and improve mental health.
Researchers from the University of Exeter – in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Plymouth – have today (4 September) published a report for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) on their findings on efforts to increase access to green social prescribing, and its effectiveness in addressing and preventing mental health problems.
Green social prescribing is the practice of supporting people with mental health needs to participate in nature-based activities. Referrals will usually come from GPs, community mental health teams or social workers, but people can also self-refer. Social Prescribing Link Workers and other trusted professionals then connect people with community groups and agencies for practical and emotional support. There are many different types of nature-based activities and therapies, including conservation, horticulture and gardening, care farming, exercise and sport, or outdoor talking therapies.
Professor Ruth Garside from the European Center for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter said: “Our findings are significant as they provide evidence that Green Social Prescribing is an effective way to support people with their mental health. But this is just the beginning and further government investment is now supporting the leadership and systems change we know Green Social Prescribing must be successful. However, there must be a continued commitment from policy makers to understand the needs of communities while also enabling more diverse people to connect with nature and investing in organizations that provide nature-based activities.”
A total of 8,339 people with mental health problems took part in nature activities across seven Green Social Prescribing Project Test and Learn pilots across England. Compared to many other social prescribing initiatives, the project reached a wider range of people, including children and young people under 18, ethnic minority groups (21 percent) and people from socio-economically disadvantaged areas (57 percent).
Before accessing nature-based activities, happiness, anxiety, life satisfaction and feelings of life being worth living were worse than national averages. After participating in the project, well-being improved and happiness and anxiety were generally in line with the national average. Levels of life satisfaction and the feeling that life was worth living were also significantly improved.
Green Social Prescribing participants said:
“After the group I feel happy, happy and calm. I feel like I have achieved something and I feel my well-being increasing. I look forward to being there.”
“It works better for me than medication. It works better for me than CBT. Most of my cases involve trauma, so the NICE guidelines do not recommend medication for borderline personality disorder. I have my counseling and that is very valuable, But this is similar to that.”
At an average cost of £507 per participant, researchers also found that Green Social Prescribing is a cost-effective method of supporting people across a broad spectrum of mental health needs. This was compared with other interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral activation and early intervention for psychosis and collaborative care for depression.
Marion Steiner is a GP in Bristol and part of the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Test and Learn Pilot Site project board. She said: “Connecting with nature is a lifelong resource with proven benefits for mental and physical health. It can break generations of adverse life events. But many of the patients I treat currently do not have access to nature in this way due to a range of personal, social and cultural barriers. That is why Green Social Prescribing is so important. This project has the potential to reduce a range of prescription and treatment costs for the NHS, as well as address many health needs and reduce the risk of several diseases. , from diabetes to depression.”
Dr. Annette Haywood, Head of Public Health Sheffield Center for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) and Principal Investigator of the study said: “I am delighted to have led this national evaluation of Green Social Prescribing. There is already a wealth of evidence to show the positive impact that nature and outdoor activities can have on mental and physical health. The findings of this report add to this evidence base and demonstrate that nature-based activities are a relatively cost-effective way to support people with a variety of supports. of mental health needs.”
Funding for the project was provided by HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund and various central government departments and external agencies. Partners included: Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Natural England, NHS England, NHS Improvement, Public Health England, Sport England, Department for Leveling Up, Housing & Communities and the National Academy for Social Prescribing .
