Testing Nature-Based Social Prescribing as a Solution to Address Loneliness

January 2021 – Ongoing // International Project // PARTNERme

Can the prescription of social activities in natural spaces reduce feelings of loneliness and improve quality of life in urban contexts?

RECETAS (Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces) is a €5 million EU-funded project aiming at testing and evaluating Nature-Based Social Prescribing across Europe, Latin America and Australia.

The challenge of RECETAS is to analyse, understand and evaluate how nature in the city can promote social interaction, help combat loneliness and improve the health and mental well-being of city dwellers. VNL is providing social network analysis expertise throughout the project.

The RECETAS Project Approach

RECETAS is grounded in participatory principles and explores loneliness through a transdisciplinary lens, integrating social, behavioral, health, and natural sciences.
It will use randomized controlled trials (RCT) and other epidemiological, anthropological, and health economic methods to examine socially and culturally innovative nature-based social prescribing (NBSP) in six cities: Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain), Prague (Czech Republic), Helsinki (Finland), Cuenca (Ecuador) and Melbourne (Australia).

"The goal is for RECETAS not only to contribute to the scientific evidence, but to offer healthcare providers, care professionals, social service organizations and communities sensible solutions to address loneliness in a cost-effective way."