Summary:
Social prescribing covers a wide range of activity including physical activities, arts, nature-based programs, volunteering, and advice services like housing or financial support. The goal of increasing the number of social prescriptions from medical providers is to improve individual health, community connections, and reduce healthcare usage. Social prescribing is practiced in over 20 countries but varies widely in terminology and delivery models. In the UK, it’s part of a comprehensive approach to personalized care, particularly supporting mental health and addressing social factors influencing health. Green social prescribing focuses specifically on nature-based interventions, like gardening or outdoor sports, which have shown mental health benefits such as stress reduction and improved well-being. This study focused on individuals referred to nature-based activities. Participants were recruited across six areas of the UK. Data were collected between February 2022 and March 2023. This study found significant improvements in participants’ well-being, with many moving from moderate to high well-being scores after engaging in the programme. Reductions in anxiety and depression levels were also observed. The study also identified that activities such as horticulture, care farming, and walking groups were particularly beneficial. Participants who engaged in activities for durations of 5 to 12 weeks demonstrated the most substantial improvements in mental health outcomes. Overall, this study demonstrated that nature-based prescriptions can significantly improve mental health and well-being. These findings support further integration of green social prescribing into broader health and social care strategies.
Abstract:
There is a strong body of evidence that points to the mental health and well-being benefits of nature alongside a growing evidence based on the health and well-being benefits of green social prescribing. Central to the UK government’s commitment to transform mental health services, seven successful ‘test and learn’ green social prescribing sites were identified across England, including the Humber and North Yorkshire green social prescribing programme. We used a cohort design to compare participants’ mental health and well-being outcomes before and after exposure to nature-based interventions offered via a referral from social prescribing organisations linked to the green social prescribing initiative. Data were collected between February 2022 and March 2023 using before and after questionnaires to determine the impact of green social prescribing on mental health and well-being outcomes using ONS-4 and Hospital and Anxiety Depression scales. In total, two hundred and twenty-three participants from across Humber and North Yorkshire were included in the cohort evaluation. Survey data were analysed quantitatively using descriptive and multivariable analyses. After adjustments for deprivation and health status, larger benefits for improvements in well-being were found to be associated with nature-based activities with durations of nine to 12 weeks compared to those with durations of one to four weeks. Horticultural and care farming activities were also shown to be associated with some improvements in well-being over nature-based sports and exercise activities. We have undertaken the first longitudinal and quantitative evaluation of the NHS England green social prescribing “test and learn” programme across Humber and North Yorkshire. Our evaluation in Humber and North Yorkshire showed green social prescribing is beneficial for mental health and well-being among community-based adults, suggesting potential as a timely and relevant community-based intervention to address the demand for mental health care in an era of high unmet need.
Article Publication Date: 01/04/2025
DOI: 10.1155/hsc/2016261
