​Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (NSFT) Governors are to host a free half-day conference in Ipswich called ‘Mind, Body and Soul’.

Service users and their families, health and social care professionals and anyone with an interest in mental, physical and spiritual health are invited to this special event, looking at health and recovery through ‘social prescribing’.

This is the use of non-medical activities and support services, such as housing and benefit advice, gardening, arts and crafts, sport etc which promote healthy lifestyles and community cohesion.

Mind, Body and Soul will be held at Ipswich Town Football Club on Friday, 2 November, between 12 noon and 4.30pm.

It will feature presentations from national, regional and local experts, and stalls and workshops from a wide variety of support organisations. It aims to raise awareness and understanding of social prescribing and provide an opportunity for people to explore what’s on offer already and what might be developed in the future.

It follows the success of the Mind, Body and Soul conference on social prescribing held in Norwich earlier this year.

Speakers will provide an overview of social prescribing, including its key features and challenges, the experiences of those benefiting from social prescribing, plans for its development across Suffolk, and lessons from local projects already up and running.

Attendees will have the chance to ask questions, visit stalls and take part in workshops to find out what’s available to help people manage their mental, physical and spiritual well-being and aid the process of recovery for those experiencing an episode of hospital care.

Workshops will focus on:
• Green therapy
• Arts, crafts and other interests
• Food and diet
• Sports and exercise
• Soul

Ian Hartley, an NSFT Public Governor representing Suffolk who is helping to organise the conference, said: “It is exciting to see how our NHS in Suffolk is recognising and responding to the needs of the community by the introduction of social prescribing.

“Social prescribing recognises that as well as medication and talking therapies; stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression can be addressed by a range of activities that make people feel better and more able to cope.

“For example, by encouraging and supporting people to take regular exercise, or to join lunch clubs, craft and gardening groups, the NHS is promoting wellbeing.

“We hope as many people as possible will join us for what promises to be a really enlightening, engaging and interactive afternoon.”

Mr Hartley added that the conference would feature an update on investment plans for Suffolk and opportunities to hear stories from the county of successful social prescribing and the wide range of activities and support available.

* Anyone who would like to attend Mind, Body and Soul should book their place in advance by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KZ3BPCZ

Caption: Ian Hartley, who is one of six NSFT Public Governors representing Suffolk, is helping to organise the Mind, Body and Soul conference in Ipswich.

For press enquiries, email: nsft.communications@nsft.nhs.uk