A national program prescribing nature to patients has launched in the Maritimes.
The PaRx program is Canada’s first national nature prescription initiative.
Jacqueline Mincer is the Maritimes launch coordinator and describes some of the benefits nature can provide for patients.
“There are an endless number of benefits that we can get from nature in terms of improving anxiety, improving depression, helping us focus better, reducing symptoms of ADHD, improving our concentration, I could go on, and on,” said Mincer.
The program was first launched in British Columbia and has since expanded to several areas, including the Maritimes.
Mincer mentioned that the results from patients have been quite positive so far.
“All of the prescribers that have been involved have only said great things, and it’s a nice opportunity for prescribers to be able to navigate a new program inter-professionally, so any healthcare provider can prescribe.”
“So, it’s not just physicians that are making a prescription, it’s also nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, so everyone is getting on board for something they all believe in,” continued Mincer.
The program already has a growing list of professional groups endorsing it, including the New Brunswick Medical Society and the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.
