What can a green social prescription help with?

A green prescription for outdoor activities can help with:

• Physical health – such as reducing high blood pressure, reducing pain and strengthening your immune system (e.g. your ability to fight-off colds and flu)

• A pre-existing health condition such as diabetes, or helping you deal with medical treatments for a condition

• Mental health such as depression, low mood, stress or anxiety

• Social life such as helping with loneliness

When someone is visiting a GP, during the conversation the GP can recommend a green social prescription alongside a medical prescription, or instead of one in some cases.

This short video from Mark McCafferty, the Health Walf and Mobility Officer for Midlothian Council will give you a better idea of how GSP can help. It is about green prescriptions in Scotland.