Social Prescribing (SP) is a model of healthcare provision aligned with the WHO priorities, whereby clients are referred to local evidence-based sources of non-medical support that address biopsychosocial wellbeing (Knapp et al., 2013; Husk et al., 2019). SP can facilitate access to therapeutic and social interventions without the need for formal healthcare services. Linkages are generally made to local public, private, volunteer, and faith-based services, thereby making it affordable and scalable even in countries with overwhelmed or non-existent healthcare services (Knapp et al., 2013). Examples of prescriptible programs include Alcoholics Anonymous and Park Run, which currently span 180 developed countries and 22 developing countries (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2021; Parkrun Global, 2021).

In recent years, there has been increasing interest and large-scale investment in the use of SP of nature-based activities for mental health (Tierney et al., 2020; Lindsay et al., 2022). This is not surprising given the increasing body of evidence linking nature-based activities, such as gardening, walking in forests, conservation activities and bird watching, with improvements in mental health and wellbeing (Shanahan et al., 2019). Furthermore, for the most part, these experiences do not rely on highly trained health experts or specialised equipment. These activities are also generally easy to conduct across various biomes, are affordable, and are scalable (Burls, 2007).

While many countries (e.g. Canada and the UK) have readably adopted nature-based prescribing, there is little guidance on how to design or implement a nature-base prescribing program. Our work, which is part of a larger project, investigated how best to design and implement a nature-based prescribing program for the benefit of communities. In this presentation, we outline how the findings of this work can help support the sustainable design and delivery of nature-based social prescribing for mental health in rural and remote communities.

Social Prescribing (SP) is a model of healthcare provision aligned with the WHO priorities, whereby clients are referred to local evidence-based sources of non-medical support that address biopsychosocial wellbeing (Knapp et al., 2013; Husk et al., 2019). SP can facilitate access to therapeutic and social interventions without the need for formal healthcare services. Linkages are generally made to local public, private, volunteer, and faith-based services, thereby making it affordable and scalable even in countries with overwhelmed or non-existent healthcare services (Knapp et al., 2013). Examples of prescriptible programs include Alcoholics Anonymous and Park Run, which currently span 180 developed countries and 22 developing countries (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2021; Parkrun Global, 2021).

In recent years, there has been increasing interest and large-scale investment in the use of SP of nature-based activities for mental health (Tierney et al., 2020; Lindsay et al., 2022). This is not surprising given the increasing body of evidence linking nature-based activities, such as gardening, walking in forests, conservation activities and bird watching, with improvements in mental health and wellbeing (Shanahan et al., 2019). Furthermore, for the most part, these experiences do not rely on highly trained health experts or specialised equipment. These activities are also generally easy to conduct across various biomes, are affordable, and are scalable (Burls, 2007).

While many countries (e.g. Canada and the UK) have readably adopted nature-based prescribing, there is little guidance on how to design or implement a nature-base prescribing program. Our work, which is part of a larger project, investigated how best to design and implement a nature-based prescribing program for the benefit of communities. In this presentation, we outline how the findings of this work can help support the sustainable design and delivery of nature-based social prescribing for mental health in rural and remote communities.