Colchester psychologist answers: What is social prescribing?

I listened intently as I was told some of the options that GPs could prescribe as alternatives to potentially addictive medicines.

“Equine experiences. Falconry. Archery. They all worked.”

Doctor Mark Wheeler explained that he began exploring these options after working as a trauma specialist in the NHS.

The chartered psychologist from Colchester said: “I became aware that much of my caseload was military veterans, but that was the tip of the iceberg.

“There were a lot more that weren’t coming, and I wondered why they weren’t seeking support?”

This realisation led Dr Wheeler to embark on a PhD at the University of Essex, where he worked with groups of military veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder, socialising them using outdoor activities.

As someone who has lived through trauma and found comfort through sport, I was intrigued to hear the results of Dr Wheeler’s study.

Togetherness - Angling was the most successful approach in Doctor Wheeler's research (Image: iCARP)

He said: “The results were stunningly good.

“I tried lots of approaches, but angling was the most powerful. It reduced symptoms the most and lasted the longest.”

“Being outdoors, being at nature, and being away from urban environments means that the threat level drops. There are no sudden adrenaline rushes.

“Being in groups of peers is important. Veterans are much more comfortable talking about their trauma with other veterans.”

Group activities are part of a new way of supporting health and wellbeing (Image: iCARP)

The use of group activities and exercise fall under the umbrella of ‘social prescribing’, a way of supporting health and wellbeing, reducing loneliness and empowering citizens to take part in new activities.

The NHS has included social prescribing in a new action plan designed to crack down on the overuse of antidepressants and painkillers.

Tracy Rudling, who is the chief executive of the Colchester-based charity Community360, echoed Dr Wheeler’s views, saying: “Social prescribing is vital to help our communities to access important information to improve their health and to feel socially included.

“Partnership work to support the health and wellbeing of our population is the way forward for primary care.”

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Community360 is working in partnership with 20 GP surgeries in north east Essex and is already seeing significant outcomes.

Abbey Field Medical Centre on Ypres Road, Colchester, is among the practices working alongside the charity to embed social prescribing.

Its practice business manager Nicky Young said: “We have been working [together] for some years now.

“Across the board our practice teams are fully aware of Community360 and all the services they can provide or connect with and therefore proactively refer patients to them.

“As well as being reactive to people’s needs we try and be proactive; recognising when people find themselves at a crossroads in life, often which they had not anticipated, is when they need additional support.”

The NHS estimates nearly 350 lives have been saved in under three years thanks to the hard work of GPs and pharmacists to cut opioid prescriptions by eight per cent.

But there is still more that could be done to reduce this further and to improve outcomes for patients.

Explaining where social prescribing fits in with the current options for mental health treatment, Dr Wheeler, who, through his company iCARP, now also offers support to emergency workers and the local mental health trust, said: “If you’re experiencing a low mood or depression, your GP has limited options.

“They can give you a prescription for antidepressants, which are right for some people but not everyone.

“Then there’s talking therapies, but these often have long waiting lists.

“Social prescribing can happen easily, and often without a waiting list.”

Almost £50 million of investment over the current financial year means that the NHS is able to continue making progress in this area.