A new report published today (Wednesday 4 September) for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) examines the effectiveness of Green Social Prescribing in tackling and preventing mental ill health.
The research was led by the University of Exeter, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield and University of Plymouth.
Green Social Prescribing is the practice of supporting people with mental health needs to engage in nature-based activities. Referrals will typically come from GPs, community mental health teams, and social workers, but people can also self-refer.
Social Prescribing Link Workers, and other trusted professionals, then connect people to 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 sports, talking therapies in the outdoors, and alternative therapies in the outdoors.
Professor Chris Dayson, from the Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Our findings demonstrate how Green Social Prescribing can support people with their mental health. Most nature-based activities are provided by small locally based voluntary organisations and community groups and this study highlights how concerns about their sustainability present a barrier to further progress.
“If Green Social Prescribing is to continue to be successful further investment is now required by the health system to support these organisations, their staff and volunteers to grow and develop.”
Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Minister for Access, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, said: “Nature makes a real difference to the quality of our lives; spending time in green and blue spaces relaxes and inspires us, improving both our physical and mental health.
“This government is committed to finding ways to help more people experience the benefits of nature. We will create nine new National River walks and plant three new National Forests, while considering ways to build on the green social prescribing programme to help more people improve their mental health through nature"
Professor Ruth Garside of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter said: “Our findings are significant because it provides evidence that Green Social Prescribing is an effective way of supporting people with their mental health. But this is just the beginning and further government investment is now required to support the leadership and systems change that we know Green Social Prescribing needs to be successful. There must be an ongoing commitment from policymakers to understand the needs of communities and enable more diverse people to connect with nature, alongside investment in those organisations that provide nature-based activities.”
In total, 8,339 people with mental health needs took part in nature-based activities at seven Green Social Prescribing Project Test and Learn pilots across England. Compared to many other social prescribing initiatives the project reached a broader range of people, including children and young people aged under 18, ethnic minority populations (21-percent), and people from socio-economically deprived areas (57-percent).
Prior to accessing nature-based activities participants’ happiness, anxiety, life satisfaction and feeling that their life was worthwhile was worse than the national average. After taking part in the project this had improved so that their happiness and anxiety was in line with the national average. Their levels of life satisfaction and feeling that their life was worthwhile had also improved significantly.
Participants in Green Social Prescribing said:
“After the group I feel joyful, happy, calm. I have a sense of achievement and I feel my wellbeing increasing. I look forward to attending.”
“It works better than medication for me. It works better than CBT for me. Most of my stuff is related to trauma, so NICE guidelines don't recommend medication for borderline personality disorder. I have my counselling and that is really valuable, but this is on a par with that.”
With an average cost of £507 per participant, researchers also found Green Social Prescribing to be a cost-effective method of supporting people across a wide spectrum of mental health needs. That’s when compared to other interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), behavioural activation, and early intervention for psychosis and collaborative care for depression.
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 Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and the National Academy for Social Prescribing.
