Social prescribing improving mental health discharge rates, pilot finds

Being prescribed non-medical treatments, such as sports groups or cookery courses, by their doctors is benefitting people with mental health conditions, a pilot has found. The Rotherham Social Prescribing Mental Health Pilot was developed to help people with mental health conditions overcome the barriers that prevent discharge from secondary mental health care services.  The 12-month pilot, which has now been extended to March 2017, helps service users build and direct their own packages of support by encouraging them to access personalised services provided by local voluntary and community groups. The pilot was delivered in partnership by Rotherham, Doncaster and South