More than 8,300 people with mental health needs took part in nature-based activities across England during the £5.77 million cross-governmental funded project led by the University of Sheffield,.
Prior to accessing nature-based activities, those participants’ whose happiness, anxiety and life satisfaction was worse than the national average, found levels of life satisfaction and feeling that life was worthwhile had improved significantly.
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, or social workers, but people can also self-refer. 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, wellbeing had improved, and typically happiness and anxiety was in line with the national average. Levels of life satisfaction and feeling that life was worthwhile had also improved significantly.
Source: University of Sheffield
