Doctors are prescribing fishing, gardening, and social service alongside medication; these can improve mental health.

Elders in fish and chat session.

The wife of Stephen (58), who lives in Kent, Britain, suffered a heart attack. After this he got into mental crisis. Stephen says, ‘There came a time when I could not understand my life. Like him, 50 year old Lee was also struggling with adverse circumstances. Depression was beginning to take over… Both of them were asked by family doctors to join fishing, art groups, walking groups and volunteering. This is social prescribing… the traditional way of treatment.

Both chose fishing. He joined the non-profit organization ‘Cast a Thought’. Here he found people with similar experiences with his favorite childhood activity. Stephen says, ‘Coming here and meeting people and sitting by the water has been magical.

This is easier and more effective than sitting in front of a therapist wearing a suit. This session was named ‘Fish and Chat’. Fishing lasts for two hours. Then coffee in the café. Become friends. There is no fixed script.

Health care systems around the world are under pressure. After Covid, the waiting list became longer, staff shortage increased. In such a situation, doctors are returning to ‘social prescribing’. In this, doctors understand the social and mental causes of the patient’s illness and connect them with activities that remove their loneliness and improve their mental health.

Pilots have started in the US following its success in Britain and the Netherlands. The organization ‘Social Prescribing USA’ is aiming to provide art, music and nature-based therapies to Americans by 2035. New projects started in Romania and Denmark. The aim is to reduce postnatal depression. New mothers are encouraged to sing.

In the Netherlands, activities like cycling club, museum visit, Tai Chi are subsidized. According to WHO, there will be a shortage of about 11 million health workers in the world by 2030. In such a situation, ‘prevention and social engagement’ seems to be the cheapest and most effective way to prevent diseases.

Alan Siegel, cofounder of Social Prescribing USA, says, ‘In depression, they quickly run out of options for therapy and medication. Many people suffer side effects. Many don’t want to go to a therapist. According to him, a large part of treatment takes place in life outside the clinic. In such a situation, social prescribing can become a better option. Activity coach Dave Alston says, ‘Social prescribing is reminiscent of the era when doctors used to go door-to-door and listen to patients. ‘Whether it’s fresh air or chatting, the truth is, it works… we’ve seen people heal,’ says Dave.

The need for medicines is decreasing, depression is also halving: Expert

According to research by Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London, people who do activities like playing music or knitting at least once a month reduce their risk of depression by almost half. A global meta-analysis found that patients who listened to music after surgery experienced less pain and needed less medication. This is the reason why doctors are giving importance to it.

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