Struggling with your mental health? Get out in the open air, say experts
Researchers at the University of Bath are looking at whether outdoor activity could be prescribed instead of anti-depressants
Could outdoor activity be prescribed by doctors as an alternative to anti depressants?
That's what researchers at the University of Bath are looking at as we mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
They are working with local partners in the Somer Valley region of Bath to understand more about the role of so called "social prescribing" in general and nature-based activities.
Doctor Scott Manager is a research manager from the University.
“Increasingly, GP’s see patients with mental health problems which can often be linked to a variety of social issues including finances, housing or relationship difficulties," he said.
"Whilst medical prescriptions can sometimes alleviate the symptoms, they can do little to tackle the complex root causes.
“'Social prescribing' is a means of initiating personalised care through a referral to a link worker who can meet with that patient, discuss their needs and then offer a personalised non-medical referral.
"This may consist of referral to agencies that specialise in supporting with housing or financial issues.
"The referrals may also be to services in the community that can help improve wellbeing.
“Significantly, as we focus on the importance of nature for mental health this week, these social prescriptions might also include nature-based programmes ranging from allotment gardening to woodland walks which can have positive impacts on people’s mental and physical health.”
Studies have already shown getting outdoors can have a positive impact on stress levels.
"We know it can reduce cortisol levels," he tells us.
"They measure that through salivary samples.
"Cortisol is a stress hormone and if we can see a reduction in cortisol then we can say there is a reduction in the stress level of that, and it's a physiological response that's measured.
"Alongside that we also have a lot of evidence from subjective well-being measures, which is basically asking people how they feel, what sort of level they feel about their own mental health, and we see reductions (in stress) after people have spent time outside and spent time in nature, both doing physical exercise and just literally experiencing nature and the outdoors."
He says the team are very interested in whether prescribing that sort of activity could reduce the amount of medicines being prescribed.
"We're seeing more medicines prescribed today, now, than has ever been prescribed," Doctor Watkins tells us.
"So, looking at social prescribing which might be an opportunity to offer the patient something different from a medicine, provides an opportunity possibly that there will be a reduction in overall medicines being prescribed."
He explains when a person takes a medicine, some of it is absorbed but some of it ends up in waste water and therefore entering the environment.
"We're looking to understand how can we reduce the number of medicines going into the environment?
"What are the possible ways at the top of the chain that we can reduce that?"
If you are struggling with your mental health you should speak to your GP.
Alternatively you can contact the Samaritans any time on 116 123.