Sunflower Therapy: How a Prescription Helped Fight Anorexia
Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text,focusing on “green social prescribing”:
What is green Social Prescribing?
* It involves prescribing nature activities to people to improve their mental and physical health. This can include things like walking in nature, gardening, or volunteering for conservation projects.
evidence of Success:
* A four-year national pilot program (ending in March) was deemed a success.
* an independent evaluation of the first two years showed a “statistically meaningful increase in wellbeing” for patients.
* For every £1 invested, there was a social and economic return of £2.42 (including getting people back into work).
* Over half of the nearly 8,500 people prescribed nature activities in the first two years lived in socio-economically deprived areas.
* Experts state the evidence that nature improves mental health is “unequivocal.”
Current Concerns & Future Outlook:
* The future of green social prescribing is uncertain.
* There’s concern that funding for these schemes is being left to charities (like The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, and Ocean Conservation Trust).
* These organizations are calling on the government to commit more funding and roll out the schemes beyond the initial seven trial areas.
* The need is to make these opportunities available “everywhere” and to fund prevention and health creation within communities.
Key Quote:
* Dom Higgins (The Wildlife Trusts): “It is unequivocal that nature improves mental health… It’s time to seriously fund prevention and opportunities for people to create good health in the neighbourhoods where they live and work.”