Children are to be “prescribed” activities including gardening, fishing and going to museums as part of research aiming to tackle loneliness among young people. The project, involving nine to 13-year-olds, will track how effective so-called social prescribing is in reducing feelings of isolation, mental health difficulties , improving school attendance and how cost effective it is. Social prescribing is described by the NHS as an approach which connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet their practical, social and emotional needs.
But researchers for the four-year project, led by by University College London (UCL), said while adults are increasingly being offered this option, younger people could be missing out on the benefits. Co-principal investigator, Professor Daisy Fancourt, from the UCL department of behavioural science and health, said: “While GPs are increasingly adopting social prescribing for adults, young people are not yet routinely accessing the service, as they tend not to go to the GP for health and wellbeing support in the way that adults might. “Our programme will help provide evidence on the potential benefits that social prescribing may have for children too.
” Twelve primary and secondary schools are currently being recruited for the pilot phase of the project, starting this year, with an aim of working with around 100 pupils. Read Next How to get children excited about nature - and boost their health and happin.
