social prescribing – A New Vision for Mental Health

Prescribing nature: the restorative power of a simple dose of outdoors

Author: Editorial 17th February 2023 0 Comments

This article by Donna Lu has been published in The Guardian. It begins: “In my mid-20s, I undertook the quintessentially Australian rite of passage of moving to London for a few years. Months into my first English winter, I started having…
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a wellbeing society

Australia, blue space, Donna Lu, exercise, Green Adelaide, green spaces, nature-based therapy, social prescribing, The Guardian, Thomas Astell-Burt, wellbeing

Why ‘green’ prescriptions for gardening and walking in the woods could soon be common for the NHS

Author: Editorial 6th January 2023 1 Comment

Tom Bawden reports for inews: “Gardening, walking in the woods, or some other dose of nature, could soon be commonly prescribed as a treatment on the NHS after a major study found that “green prescriptions” can work wonders for our mental and physical health. Green…
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a wellbeing society

gardening, inews, National Academy for Social Prescribing, nature, Research, social prescribing, Tom Bawden

Scotland’s doctors urged to prescribe gardening and cooking

Author: Editorial 27th October 2022 0 Comments

The BBC reports : “Prescribing patients activities such as walking, gardening and cooking can help Scotland tackle health inequality, leading charities have said. A coalition of 19 organisations are calling on the Scottish government to adopt a national strategy for so-called…
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collaborative practice

BBC, BBC Scotland, cooking, Emma Lunan, gardening, loneliness, Movement for Health, social prescribing

Why women are being given boxing gloves and ballet shoes instead of antidepressants

Author: Editorial 15th August 2022 0 Comments

Subtitled “With one in five people taking pills for their mental health, doctors are turning to alternative methods – with help from Sport England”, this report from Miranda has been published in the Daily Telegraph. It begins: “It’s long been known…
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a wellbeing society

antidepressants, ballet, boxing, Daily Telegraph, depression, exercise, Miranda Levy, social prescribing, Sport England, women, yoga

Fishing cures PTSD and anxiety, first ever clinical study aims to prove

Author: Editorial 11th July 2022 0 Comments

This report by Danielle Sheridan has been published in The Telegraph. It begins: “ Fishing has long been lauded as a relaxing pastime which can put one’s mind at ease. While it has been claimed anecdotally that fishing can help with post-traumatic…
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collaborative practice

anxiety, Danielle Sheridan, depression, fishing, nature-based social prescribing, Nick Cooper, PTSD, Research, social prescribing, The Telegraph, wellbeing

New handbook to help prescribe nature for mental health and wellbeing

Author: Editorial 19th November 2021 0 Comments

The European Centre for Environment and Human Health has produced this handbook . They say: “Understanding how the power of nature can help people improve their mental health and overcome conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress has been boosted thanks…
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a wellbeing society

blue space, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, green spaces, nature, nature-based therapy, Ruth Garside, social prescribing, wellbeing, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

A Prescription for Music Lessons

Author: Editorial 15th November 2021 0 Comments

This studies review from Dr. Debra Shipman has been published by Federal Practitioner. It concludes: “A healthful lifestyle includes holistically addressing issues pertaining to mental and physical well-being. Learning how to play a musical instrument is a workout for the brain, just…
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a wellbeing society

Debra Shipman, depression, Federal Practitioner, music, music therapy, neuroscience, PTSD, social prescribing, substance abuse, wellbeing

Combatting Structural Racism and Classism in Psychiatry: An Interview with Helena Hansen

Author: Editorial 18th October 2021 0 Comments

In this interview , published on Mad in America (and relating more to an American context), Richard Sears talks to psychiatrist and anthropologist Helena Hansen about bringing structural competency to psychiatry while rebuilding communities through activism and mutual aid. Here is…
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a coherent system

audio, black people, gender, Helena Hansen, Mad in America, neuroscience, psychiatry, racism, Richard Sears, social prescribing, socio-economic class, stigma, structural competency, USA

RHS Bridgewater: Europe’s ‘biggest horticultural project’ opens

Author: Editorial 26th May 2021 0 Comments

In part concerning therapeutic gardening and social prescribing, the BBC reports : “The first Royal Horticultural Society garden in an urban area has welcomed its first visitors, completing what the charity has billed as Europe’s “biggest hands-on horticultural project”. The 154-acre…
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a wellbeing society

horticultural therapy, RHS Garden Bridgewater, Royal Horticultural Society, social prescribing, Sue Briggs, therapeutic gardening, videos, wellbeing

‘My doctor prescribed rambling for lockdown anxiety’

Author: Editorial 30th April 2021 0 Comments

Angie Brown reports for BBC Scotland: “An Edinburgh widower who was struggling with mental health issues due to the isolation of lockdown has walked 2,000 miles in a year after his doctor prescribed that he join the Ramblers. Jim Snodgrass, 84,…
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a wellbeing society

Angie Brown, anxiety, BBC Scotland, exercise, green spaces, social prescribing, The Ramblers, Victor Jack, walking, wellbeing