The region's mental health trust will hold a free half-day conference for anyone interested in mental, physical and spiritual health.

The event, Mind, Body, and Soul will look at health and recovery through social prescribing - the use of non-medical activities such as housing and benefit advice, gardening, arts and crafts, and sports.

It is being put on by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust's (NSFT) governors, and will feature presentations from national, regional and local experts as well as stalls and workshops.

Speakers will provide an overview of social prescribing, including its key features and challenges, plans for its development across Norfolk and Suffolk, and lessons from local projects already up and running. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and 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.

It follows the success of similar events organised by the Trust's Governors in Ipswich and Norwich in recent years, which focused on a variety of topics including talking therapies, dementia, and the complex needs of people who have mental health problems and use drugs and other substances.

Workshops will focus on direct support, green therapy, arts, crafts and other interests, food and diet, sports and exercise, and soul.

Nigel Boldero, an NSFT Governor who has been involved in planning the conference, said: 'I'm really looking forward to hearing about the wide range of fantastic community organisations that are helping promote health through non-medical activities. Social prescribing isn't just about relieving the pressures on the NHS; evidence shows that these different types of therapy and support are effective and make a positive contribution to all aspects of a person's health.

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

Mind, Body and Soul - Health and recovery through social prescribing, takes place on Thursday, 22 March at The King's Centre, King Street, Norwich, NR1 1PH, between 12pm and 4.30pm.

Anyone who would like to attend should book their place in advance by visiting www.nsft.uk/mindbodysoul