A school nurse has described her ‘brutal battle’ with depression over the last two decades and how she has been massively helped by a Trafford community project.
Louise Jones, from Altrincham, said her anxiety and depression took her to a ‘very dark place’ in recent years. And the pandemic has had a particular impact on her and others in her situation.
She said: “I’d become increasingly withdrawn and isolated. The pandemic increased my anxiety and I just didn’t want to get up some days. Medication alone was not the answer to my complex condition and the support of my GP practice’s social prescribers, has enabled me to feel much brighter.”
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Louise has been getting help with her mental health struggles from Altrincham Healthcare Alliance Primary Care Network, who prescribed her to join an allotment group in the town.
The community project has seen Louise and others pick up their spades and dig in, growing plants and building sheds among other things, in a bid to feel part of something bigger.
Louise said: “It’s the perfect medicine to feel lighter and brighter. Nature on prescription is making a tangible difference to my anxiety.”
Debbie Taylor, from Old Trafford, has been hit hard by the pandemic too and suffers with anxiety and depression.
She has also become involved in the allotment project and reaped the benefits.
She said: “Working together and witnessing the development of the allotment is wonderful. Being outside and in touch with nature – seeing things change and grow – gives you a real sense of peace and pride.”
The Altrincham-based allotment group is directly helping those struggling with anxiety and depression, since ONS figures revealed the impact of the pandemic on mental health.
More than one in five adults in the UK are currently experiencing some form of depression and 74pc of adults report a negative blow to their well-being over the last 18 months – including symptoms like unhappiness, dissatisfaction with life and anxiety.
Social prescribing enables doctors to refer patients with complex needs which affect their health and well-being to practical and emotional support – from counselling, to support with homelessness, isolation, mental health, debt issues, welfare benefits and the impact of covid-19.
Lead Social Prescriber for Altrincham Healthcare Alliance PCN, Sarah Warman, said: “We’re supporting the counselling and family centre’s allotment project which is making a huge difference to peoples’ lives. Growing vegetables and plants, transforming the plot with raised beds and a shed, is not only improving physical activity, reducing anxiety and stress and social isolation, but boosting happiness and confidence through a renewed sense of purpose.”
Jim Sales, a counsellor who leads the allotment project, added: “In the past year I’ve seen not only a transformation of the plot, but of the group’s members. It’s somewhere where people can share their stories if they wish, or simply enjoy the community at work on the land. It’s a safe space to speak, support each other and form friendships. Green prescribing is a real tonic that works: nature helps to nurture.”
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Altrincham Healthcare Alliance PCN’s social prescribing team work across Altrincham Medical Practice, Park Medical Practice, Shay Lane Medical Centre (Drs Kelman, Cranston, Naylor, Haslam and Connell), St Johns Medical Centre and West Timperley Medical Centre.
The network has taken thousands of well-being calls throughout the pandemic and supported patients who needed it – linking them with shopping services, food banks, prescription delivery options and supporting those struggling with isolation, fuel poverty issues, housing and homelessness.
They have also directed people towards exercise, arts and sports programmes to improve their well-being and supported those with mental health concerns, weight issues and people with financial worries or in need of job advice working in partnership with Citizens Advice Trafford (CAT).
The network and CAT have developed a dedicated debt support service for patients.
Patients who want to speak to a social prescriber should ask at their GP reception.
Read more on issues in Trafford on our MyTrafford page.
