Green social prescribing boosts mental
health

Green social prescribing can significantly reduce people's anxiety and improve their happiness and life satisfaction, according to the findings from a landmark, two-year cross-government study.

The evaluation of the Green Social Prescribing Programme to Tackle and Prevent Mental Ill Health demonstrates that helping people to engage in nature-based activities - including horticulture, conservation work or nature-based exercise groups - can improve mental health. The programme has been extended until April 2025.

In 2021, the Government launched the £5.7m two-year Green Social Prescribing programme, funded by Treasury and core partners. This innovative programme, one of the first of its kind in the world, aimed to assess the impact of green social prescribing on people’s mental health, tackle health inequalities by reaching people living in deprived communities and deliver value to the health system. During the study, more than 8,300 people with mental health needs were supported to access nature-based activities, and now more are set to benefit.

Participants’ wellbeing was measured before and after participation in nature-based activities using Office of National Statistics (ONS4) measures, with statistically significant improvements:

• Happiness increased from an average of 5.3 out of 10 to 7.5, above the national average of 7.4.
• Life satisfaction increased from an average of 4.7 out of 10 to 6.8 (national average 7.5).
• Feeling that life is worthwhile increased from an average of 5.1 out of 10 to 6.8 (national average 7.7).
• Levels of anxiety reduced from an average of 4.8 out of 10 to 3.4 (national average 3.2).
• The economic value of improvements to individual life satisfaction were estimated to be £2.42 for every £1 invested by central Government, and a total value of £14.0 million.

The programme was targeted to support people who were most in need. More than 50% of participants were from the most socio-economically deprived areas, and 21% of participants were from ethnic minority populations.

The programme has been extended until 31st March 2025, with further funding being provided by the Government's Shared Outcomes Fund and partner organisations. The extension of the programme will be used to gather evidence and explore methods to help spread and embed the programme at a national scale.