WARNING: This story contains mention of suicidal ideation.
Patients in Hamilton can now be prescribed access to nature.
The PaRx program, an initiative that allows healthcare providers to prescribe nature passes to patients, is now available for Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) sites.
The prescription would allow patients to access a 30-day membership pass to conservation areas.
For Paul Stacho, who lives in Stoney Creek, access to conservation areas has been life changing. He said if people are able to overcome a financial barrier to spending time outdoors, they will realize how much it can help.
“In my case, [nature] saved my life,” he told CBC Hamilton.
Stacho started visiting the HCA sites in the mid-90s after a serious workplace accident changed his life, leaving him with chronic pain, insomnia, depression, respiratory issues, and suicidal thoughts.
Stacho didn’t have a nature prescription then, but his doctors still recommended he take on activities he enjoyed when living in his home country of what is now called Slovakia, which included hiking in the mountains.
“I started to recover slowly and surely,” he said. “I’m 71 years old and I’m looking forward to still to live.”
Any registered healthcare provider in Hamilton can register with PaRx to give out the prescription.
Once a patient has been given the prescription, they must fill out an online form on the HCA website. A $10 administrative fee will still apply, according to the HCA website.
Passes range, from an annual parking pass of about $130 to other rates.
The BC Parks Foundation started the PaRx initiative in 2020, aiming to connect people to nature while bringing awareness to conservation.
Dr. Meghan Davis, who is based in Hamilton, said the city is surrounded by “incredible natural spaces.”
“But not every patient feels able — or even permitted — to prioritize time there,” she said in a statement.
“Removing the cost barrier with these passes makes it much more likely that patients will actually go, and keep going.”
The program has several partners across the country, including Conservation Halton, Parks Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
It launched in Halton in late 2024. Then interim vice-president Dr. Stephen Chin, said walking outside for 20 minutes “can make a big difference in our health.”
“But beyond just being outside, spending time in nature can also improve mental health, lower blood pressure, and “even [extend] life expectancy,” Chin said previously.
The Hamilton Public Library also offers day passes to Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and Grand River Parks.
When Stacho started visiting HCA sites around 30 years ago, he started with short visits to the Devil’s Punchbowl Conservation Area.
He said going on hikes also revived his love for photography. He said the process helped him recover from his depression and suicidal thoughts.
“I started to think positively, and Mother Nature was basically my sanctuary,” he said.
Stacho still goes at least twice a week, either by himself or with his wife. He takes a thermos with coffee and a snack or a piece of cake, and spends several hours at the sites. His current favourite is the Westfield Heritage Village.
“It’s good for my lungs.” he said. “I had a respiratory problem and if I go to the [conservation areas] my battery is charged.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are some places to look for help:
