Why offer green social prescriptions?
Green social prescribing can help your organisation achieve its goals. By connecting people with nature-based activities, you can improve people’s health and wellbeing, reduce healthcare costs, strengthen community ties, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Ultimately, green social prescribing is a win-win for both individuals and communities. It provides a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, addressing physical, mental, and social needs.
Green social prescribing offers numerous benefits to communities:
Improved Physical and Mental Health: Spending time in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
- Increased Social Connection: Nature-based activities often involve group participation, fostering social interaction and reducing feelings of isolation.
- Enhanced Community Wellbeing: By promoting healthier lifestyles and stronger communities, green social prescribing can contribute to a more resilient and vibrant community.
- Environmental Benefits: Engaging in nature-based activities can increase awareness of environmental issues and encourage sustainable practices.
- Economic Benefits: By reducing healthcare costs and increasing productivity, green social prescribing can have a positive impact on the local economy.
What are “green” activities?
“Green” activities are designed to connect people with nature, they can take place in various settings, from the comfort of your home to local parks and wild spaces.
They can be active, such as walking or gardening, or more passive, like mindfulness or simply enjoying nature’s beauty. People can take part in groups or explore nature independently: there’s a green health activity for everyone.
It’s important to consider individual limitations and preferences when developing activities and the goal is to make nature accessible to all, regardless of ability.
How to do it?
If you are considering offering Green Social Prescription service (or already do) there are a couple of simple steps to ensuring you are getting the right referrals:
- STEP 1: List you service on iThrive – By listing your service here, potential prescribers will be able to see the details and match up the needs of service users with what you can offer. If you would like to add a project/service, please email ithrive@health-in-mind.org.uk.
- STEP 2: Build strong partnerships – Our research has shown that the most successful referrals happen when there is a good, shared understanding between the prescribers and the providers of the activity. Prescribers go beyond GPs and include nurses, pharmacists, physios and lots more health professionals they may even include other community groups.
- STEP 3: Reach out to Community Link workers in your area – Community Link workers act as a bridge between healthcare providers and community resources. Make sure they know all about what your service offers and who it is suitable for.
Find further information
To learn more about green social prescribing, you can explore the following resources:
Official Resources:
- NHS England: This is a great resource for information on green social prescribing in England but can also be applied to Scotland. It includes guidance, case studies, and research.
- Social Prescribing Academy: This organisation provides training and resources for social prescribing link workers and other healthcare professionals.
Other Reliable Sources:
- Green Social Prescribing Toolkit is designed to help communities, organisations and health professionals who are looking to set up green social prescribing programmes that connect with local health systems.
- NHS Forest promotes the health and wellbeing benefits of nature and provides information on green social prescribing initiatives.
- Think Health Think Nature have worked with health-care professionals and third sector organisations in the Highlands to put together some advice and guidance on helpful subjects.
- University of Stirling’s Green Spaces for Mental Health guidance documents provide information for health or social care practitioners or anyone who is supporting people with poor mental health and substance dependence who are interested in setting up a greenspace programme.
