Connecting Ecotherapy and Well-Being

Scholl, Kathleen G.; Gulwadi, Gowri Betrabet

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-95681-7_74

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…As indicated from the prior systematic reviews in the area [ 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] the quality of the studies was found to be poor. Half of the studies identified ( n = 3) had no peer-review element in the analyses reported, with only two studies including any form of control group.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecotherapy is typically characterised as a nature-based intervention that includes a range of outdoor activities with a primary focus on mental health improvement [ 17 ]. Natural England have argued that such interventions improve mental health by: connecting people to nature; facilitating social contact and support; and engaging people in tasks they regard as purposeful [ 16 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As reflected in published reviews in the area [ 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], the existing quality of evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of ecotherapy and other nature-based interventions would be insufficient for a national health technology assessment agency, such as NICE, to conduct a meaningful assessment, reflecting why it has not been included in the relevant clinical guidance [ 26 ]. However, that is not to say that no indicative evidence can be drawn from the existing literature which can be combined and used to inform current commissioning policy and future research through value of information methodology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The inconsistent availability of services is compounded by a lack of high-quality research quantifying the benefits of nature based mental health services either from a clinical or cost-effectiveness standpoint [ 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. This results in limited evidence available to commissioners with which to conduct assessments of value consistent with good methods guidance [ 19 ], and therefore limited grounds for support.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Cost Effectiveness of Ecotherapy as a Healthcare Intervention, Separating the Wood from the Trees

Hinde

Bojke

Coventry

2021

IJERPH

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Internationally, shifts to more urbanised populations, and resultant reductions in engagements with nature, have been a contributing factor to the mental health crisis facing many developed and developing countries. While the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced recent trends in many countries to give access to green spaces more weight in political decision making, nature-based activities as a form of intervention for those with mental health problems constitute a very small part of patient pathways of care. Nature-based interventions, such as ecotherapy, are increasingly used as therapeutic solutions for people with common mental health problems. However, there is little data about the potential costs and benefits of ecotherapy, making it difficult to offer robust assessments of its cost-effectiveness. This paper explores the capacity for ecotherapy to be cost-effective as a healthcare intervention. Using a pragmatic scoping review of the literature to understand where the potential costs and health benefit lie, we applied value of information methodology to identify what research is needed to inform future cost-effectiveness assessments. We show that there is the potential for ecotherapy for people with mild to moderate common mental health problems to be cost-effective but significant further research is required. Furthermore, nature-based interventions such as ecotherapy also confer potential social and wider returns on investment, strengthening the case for further research to better inform robust commissioning.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%