Reasoning & Evidence
Social prescribing is used to describe the practice of non-medical referral programs that aim to increase one’s sense of social connectedness and belonging to combat social isolation and loneliness. When linked with nature-based programs, social prescribing can promote nature contact to foster restorative and social benefits.(35) Group-based activities that include natural elements have been found to cultivate connection and belonging, and increased program length is correlated to increased benefits.(36) These interventions are designed to be low-cost and promote sustainability as they encourage participants to interact with their environments in a safe and positive way. Utilizing natural elements like parks, hiking trails, and coastlines as a means for restoring mental health can reduce the need for more costly medical interventions in some cases.(35)
Major health insurance companies, like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente, have recognized the health benefits of nature-based social prescribing, and have partnered with programs like park prescriptions and family education programs.(37) Advocating for more health insurance companies to adopt nature-based social prescribing into their coverage plans and to include screening for social isolation and loneliness will encourage increased use of these programs.(35) One of the key advantages of nature-based social prescribing is the vast range of ways it can be implemented. There are smaller-scale programs like community gardening, forest bathing, bird watching, and farmers market vouchers.(38) There are also larger, national-level programs such as the Walk with a Doc program, Friends in Nature program, and the Track Rx program. Nature-based social prescribing can accommodate various activity and mobility levels as well, including viewing nature, being outdoors in nature, and participating in activities in nature.(39) These programs can be also be tailored to support populations facing high rates of social isolation (e.g., older adults, immigrants/refugees, etc). Studies show that reconnecting rural and Indigenous communities to their natural environments through land-based interventions strengthens social connections and aids in healing grief and PTSD. Programs like Project George in Cree communities reduce youth suicides and promote well-being by engaging participants in traditional practices alongside elders. These connections help restore cultural identity and resilience, even in urban settings, where nature-based practices continue to support health and social bonds.(55-56)
Examples of Community Implementation
Manchester, UK: The RHS Bridgewater Community Wellbeing Garden in Manchester partnered with Salford Primary Care to launch a social prescribing project that involved healthcare referrals to their therapeutic gardening program. The garden offers spaces for contemplation as well as socialization, spaces for users to cultivate and upkeep plants, and spaces for wheelchair users to experience the feel of grass and plants at their level. The social prescribing program utilized group activities to connect participants with nature and each other, through a range of interventions including nature walks and garden-based crafts. Program participants noted that the garden social prescription improved their mental health and confidence levels while reducing their social isolation.(35)
Davis, California: The University of California, Davis has implemented a nature-based social prescribing program on its college campus to offer a holistic healthcare regimen that utilizes nature to foster better physical, mental, and social lives among its students. The program, Nature Rx, operates on campus through the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden with elements like a campus tree tour, “green classrooms”, and guides to help students discover their own nature nook. Run by student and faculty volunteers, this program offers many avenues for students to engage with nature and each other.
Reference: The SOCIAL Framework: The Environmental Sector Supplemental Brief
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