Green prescriptions are a form of social prescribing: a way for health and social care practitioners to connect the people they are supporting with a range of non-clinical sources of support in the community. Pathways can be used to address existing health concerns; as a form of recovery from ill health or injury; or to encourage social connection.
Green Health is about maintaining a healthy lifestyle through interaction with the natural environment. Any health or social care practitioner who has direct contact with those they support has the opportunity to make a Green Prescription. This includes GPs, physiotherapists, community pharmacists, community mental health practitioners, support workers, midwives, nurses and many more.
Green Health Activities:
- Connect people with nature for their improved health and wellbeing
- Take place anywhere nature can be engaged with, including inside the home, garden, local park or wild spaces.
- Can be active (e.g. walking) or inactive (e.g. mindfulness)
- Can be part of an organised group or self-led.
- Should be realistic – mindful of the limitations of certain barriers to participation.
- Should be inclusive allowing for participation no matter the ability.
Green Health Activities can Include:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Outdoor volunteering,
- Gardening and growing,
- Outdoor learning
- Creative arts and crafts (outdoors)
- Outdoor sport
- Relaxation and mindfulness
Person Centred Care
In healthcare, person-centered care is where the patient actively participates in their own medical treatment, in close cooperation with the health professionals. It is a holistic approach viewing the needs of the person as a whole rather than focusing on an individual illness or symptoms. For a Green Prescription to be a success, the patient must be an active participant the decision making about what activity will suit them. Finding an activity that interests and motivated the patient will increase the chances that the activity will be sustained. There are many different green health activities listed in our directory.
Community Link Workers
Community Link Workers (CLW’s) are valuable in making green health referrals a success. They offer non clinical support to patients, enabling them to set goals and overcome barriers, in order that they can take greater control of their health and well-being. A GP or other health practitioner can refer a patient to a CLW. Using ‘good conversations’ the CLW will support individuals to identify problems and issues they are experiencing and to talk about what really matters to them. In Highland there are CLW in some GP practices and some third sector organisations offer a similar service both face to face and online. There still remains a number of areas, particularly rural ones, without access to a CLW.
Other Supporting Agencies
Even in the absence of Community Link Workers there are many other support agencies in face to face roles with individuals that can play a valuable role in signposting and supporting individuals in to Green Health activities. This includes but is not limited to:
- Active Health Project
- Alzheimers Scotland
- Befrienders Highland
- Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
- Connecting Carers
- Macmillan
- Sight Action
- Support in Mind
- Versus Arthritis