Medical practitioners in Canada are issuing annual passes to national parks as part of prescriptions for their patients.
In a bid to promote holistic wellness, a new approach is gaining traction - nature prescriptions. One of the leading organisations spearheading this movement is Park Rx America, based in the United States. Founded by Dr. Robert Zarr, a Washington, DC-based paediatrician, the goal is to empower healthcare providers to prescribe time spent in nature as part of medical care.
National Programmes for Nature Prescriptions
The momentum behind nature prescriptions has been growing, with significant developments in Canada and the United States.
Canada's national parks management agency, Parks Canada, has joined the national nature prescription program PaRx. This partnership aims to make it easier for doctors to prescribe the benefits of Canada's beautiful national parks to their patients.
Meanwhile, in the United States, there are approximately 71 similar nature health programmes across 32 states, with Park Rx America serving as the stateside hub. For those interested in finding a prescribed park near them, Park Rx America offers a tool to help locate these green spaces.
PaRx: Encouraging Regular Nature Time
PaRx, the Canadian counterpart to Park Rx America, is using limited research to build on this form of holistic wellness. Dr. Melissa Lem, the director of PaRx, recommends that patients spend at least 2 hours a week in nature and at least 20 minutes each time.
This prescription for nature can yield physical and mental health benefits. Spending time in nature can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, boost the immune system, increase feelings of happiness, calm racing thoughts, promote connection with others, and improve self-esteem.
In an effort to make these benefits accessible, PaRx's national park annual pass, called the Parks Canada Discovery Pass, costs $57 ($72 CAD) per adult. To ensure that those who live near national parks and those who may have trouble affording them can take advantage of this cost-free nature on their doorstep, doctors are encouraged to prioritise prescribing the pass to these patients.
As more Parks Prescription programs continue to pop up near and far, it seems that the power of nature is becoming a more prominent part of healthcare.
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