UCLan collaborates with mental health charity to explore so-called blue and green social prescribing in day-long event
Harnessing the outdoors to improve mental well-being is the focus of a day-long conference at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Organised by UCLan's Social Prescribing Unit and UCLan Outdoors, in partnership with mental health charity Mind Over Mountains and Earthing Revolution, the View from the Summit conference aims to bring together people from across the outdoors, mental health and social prescribing sectors to explore ways of improving mental well-being through the natural outdoor environment.
The event, on Friday 10 June, will take place in person and online, with keynote speakers Alex Staniforth, from Mind Over Mountains, the only Level 3 Wim Hof Method instructor in the UK, Emma Estrale, and UCLan’s team of social prescribing and mental health researchers.
Attendees will be able to take part in a range of practical, theoretical and discussion-based workshops across the outdoors, mental health and social prescribing themes. These include mindfulness, yoga, earthing, cold water therapy and nutrition.
"Social prescribing connects the fantastic work being done in communities, reaching between traditional services such as the NHS and social care, through to social enterprises, voluntary and community groups, SME's and private businesses. All for the purpose of improving well-being."
— Lecturer in occupational therapy and UCLan Social Prescribing Unit co-ordinator Samantha Pywell
Lecturer in occupational therapy and UCLan Social Prescribing Unit co-ordinator Samantha Pywell has helped to organise the event.
She said: “Promoting positive mental well-being is high on the current agenda, with television programmes such as Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof bringing the notion of using the natural outdoor environment to improve our mental health to the fore.
“Many practitioners are supportive of this approach. Social prescribing connects the fantastic work being done in communities, reaching between traditional services such as the NHS and social care, through to social enterprises, voluntary and community groups, SME's and private businesses. All for the purpose of improving well-being.
“Blue and green social prescribing connects not only a clear pathway between say a GP surgery and interventions in the outdoors, but also acknowledges the holistic connections between people and activities that can become very meaningful.
“We hope that by bringing relevant sectors together to share and explore existing research, education and community initiatives around adventure and outdoor therapy, we can extend the support that is required or available to enable safe and meaningful experiences.”
"By combining the various pillars at this event, I hope we can keep the conversation going, share best practice and inspire action, whilst supporting our work to allow better access to nature and improve well-being in the community.”"
— Alex Staniforth, co-founder of Mind Over Mountains
Alex Staniforth, record-breaking adventurer, ultra-endurance athlete, international motivational speaker, author and co-founder of Mind Over Mountains, said: “So many of us already understand the importance of spending time in nature for our well-being, but there is so much still to learn and discover. By combining the various pillars at this event, I hope we can keep the conversation going, share best practice and inspire action, whilst supporting our work to allow better access to nature and improve well-being in the community.”
The event can be booked online and will take place at UCLan’s Preston Campus on Friday 10 June from 10.00am until 4.00pm. It costs £10 to attend in person, with all profits going to Mind Over Mountains. People can take part online for free but will have limited access to workshops.
For more information, contact lecturer in occupational therapy and UCLan Social Prescribing Unit co-ordinator Samantha Pywell.