Archaeology on prescription

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24692630.archaeology-prescription-helps-people-heal-york/

A really great idea....

[Ian61]

Get folks doing interesting things. Always good.

[Jim Webster]

It can help, there's no doubt about it. But it doesn't help everybody because you cannot change a chemical imbalance or heal severe trauma with just getting out and about.

A friend of mine, she gets pretty upset about it, but she does have major trauma issues, and she left this on facebook.

"WWF (pandas, not wrestlers..... their ignorance would be more understandable maybe...)WTAF!!! Don't normally watch TV channels but bake off..... "prescriptions for nature" Do you have any concept how insulting that is to people with poor mental health 'ooooo don't go and see your over worked and under funded gp..... just go for a walk! That'll sort you out!'. In the words of one of my favourite GP friends I am full of viking anger!!
But never mind, I'll soon shake it off with a couple of deep breathes, a stroll in the park and some mindful journaling!!  WWF, Don't forget to Live Laugh Love whilst you are shoving your prescription right up your condescending arse!"

It wasn't a good day, and Bake Off was the last straw 

[Imperial Dave]

Completely get it. One size does not fit all but offering a range of therapies and alternatives is a good start

[Jim Webster]

Completely get it. One size does not fit all but offering a range of therapies and alternatives is a good start

Oh yes, and even she will say that 'wild swimming' is something she treasures and it helps a great deal. The problem is that dumping somebody onto an outdoor charity is cheap and costs no resources to the health service. For people who really need a lot of help they are beginning to notice this 

[Erpingham]

Going a bit off topic but one of the major causes of mental unwellness in the UK is lonelineness and social isolation.  Social prescribing to a group setting, be it archaeology, gardening or men's sheds, can make a difference. But fobbing off people with serious depression or mental trauma is not where we should be.

[Imperial Dave]

Very very true

[Cantabrigian]

But it doesn't help everybody because you cannot change a chemical imbalance [...] with just getting out and about.

The trouble is we don't have a detailed enough understanding of brain chemistry to be sure of that - some chemical imbalances may be a symptom of things that can be improved by "getting out and about".

And it's an improvement on the previous scheme which was "throw more drugs at it".