Page 60 - Discovery Guide

The five ways to wellbeing outlined above were identified by the Government-backed Foresight project back in 2008. Today, according to the National Academy for Social Prescribing, connecting with nature can:
l Reduce stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue
l Increased wellbeing, including subjective wellbeing, reduced social isolation, increased happiness, and resilience wellbeing and a decrease in PTSD symptoms and ADHD
Last year, four CPAN participants gave evidence at a Citizen’s Jury hosted
by Lancaster University at which a 40-strong panel explored the potential of green social prescribing initiatives, like CPAN, to improve mental health.
l Boost our immune systems l Encourage us to be more
physically active
Deborah added: “To have the confidence to speak at an event like this – which was attended by healthcare professionals, researchers, policy-makers and Lancashire’s Director of Public Health
There’s also a growing body of evidence suggesting that time spent in nature is linked to a range of positive mental and physical health outcomes such as:
l Reduced blood pressure, reduced stress levels and associated symptoms, lower levels of cardiovascular and respiratory problems and reduced risk of diabetes and obesity
– shows just how much progress these participants have made.
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“Some of the people who have taken part in the programme hadn’t left their homes for months, while another had never stayed away from home overnight their entire adult life.