WHAT ARE THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVES?

PRESCRIPTION drugs aren’t the only NHS-approved

therapy available for depression. Increasingly, doctors are recommending other evidencebased solutions. They include:

■ TALKING THERAPIES: They’re available on NHS prescription throughout the UK and include everything from counselling to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which aims to change the way people think about a situation, and mindfulness.

■ EXERCISE CLASSES: Studies show the benefit of exercise on mood. And GPs can now prescribe exercise for patients free or at a reduced cost. Whether it’s yoga, aerobics or something else will depend on what’s available in your area.

■ WALKING: If you live in the Oxford, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Gwynedd areas, you’re likely to be prescribed a stroll to chase the blues away. NHS Forest runs guided and DIY walks along their ‘Green Health Routes’.

■ GARDENING: Working in a green space helps us relax, so doctors now refer patients to work in community gardens. The Lambeth GP Food Co-op plants gardens in GP surgeries and hospitals and says these have helped people’s mental health.

■ SWIMMING: Whether it’s the local pool or the sea, getting in the water improves mood. The chillier the better — NHS anaesthetist Dr Mark Harper has helped set up Chill, which runs sessions around the UK to help people take advantage of the healing abilities of cold water.