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Canadian healthcare practitioners are now allowed to prescribe patients a year-long pass to the country’s national parks in a bid to improve their mental and physical health.
If you’ve struggled or are currently struggling with mental health issues, I know what you’re thinking: when has a medical professional suggesting you ‘go for a walk’ ever actually improved your situation?
Well, while tales of this may certainly be considered meme-worthy on those dark humour pages you follow to help you cope, in Canada it seems as though they might be onto something.
Back in November 2020, following the first year of Covid-19 and the slew of psychological problems it brought with it, Parks Canada and Park Prescriptions joined forces to launch a programme in British Columbia.
Titled PaRx, the initiative has since rolled out to four other provinces and was recently cited by WHO as a means of inspiring conversation and the restoration of the Earth, which constitutes the basis of our wellbeing.
But what exactly does it involve?
Healthcare practitioners across the country are now allowed to prescribe patients a free year-long pass to Canada’s national parks in the hopes of getting them into the wilderness for a minimum of two hours per week.
It offers unlimited admission to over 80, territory that together covers more than 450,000 square kilometres of land and water.
With research showing the undeniable benefits of connecting with nature, Dr Melissa Lem – the brains behind the operation – considers it a progressive form of therapy in that it’s free and consequently accessible to all.
‘There’s a strong body of evidence on the health benefits of nature time, from better immune function and life expectancy to reduced risk of heart disease, depression and anxiety,’ she explains.
‘Our role is to bring this concept to Canada and institutionalise it, then spread it within the medical community at large and provide them with the resources and training to be able to implement it properly.’
