Nature-based interventions in mental health-care V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How can a horticultural project support people living with mental health conditions? A mixed method study exploring the views of service users and social prescribers
IRAS ID
342373
Contact name
Hilary Trevelyan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
The purpose of the study is to investigate potential benefits of a structured horticultural programme for people experiencing poor mental health. Mental ill-health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK accounting for 22.8% of disease burden with an estimated cost of 105.2 billion per year (DoH 2011). Social prescribing seeks to promote community-based support for these service users building resilience in the social, economic and environmental factors of people's psychological well-being (NHS Long-Term Plan 2019). The focus of this study is the effectiveness of green social prescribing. There is an emerging evidence suggesting social prescribing can improve health and well-being outcomes for people reducing reliance on both services and medication (Dayson & Bashir 2014; Mental Health Foundation 2021) and a 5.77 million cross government Green Social Prescribing programme (2021)set out to embed green social prescribing in mental health pathways. The current study takes place at Together We Grow, a horticultural project set up as a social enterprise to improve the lives of adults experiencing poor mental health. The study takes place in three parts firstly investigating the views and perceptions of social prescribers responsible for linking participants with the project. Secondly participants at Together we Grow will complete questionnaires measuring levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness and quality of life before starting at the project. Following 8 - 12 attendances they will complete the measures again and a short semi-structured interview will take place exploring how they have experienced their participation. Finally the findings will be fed back to social prescribers in a focus group. The discussion will consider whether the data suggests that social prescribing to Together We Grow is achieving the goals set out by the National Academy of Social Prescribing: reducing reliance on services and medication, building resilience and integrating service users into the community.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0115
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion