Prescribing Nature Therapy for Improved Mental Health

HartJane,

doi:10.1089/act.2016.29067.jha

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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Section: Nature As An Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research has substantiated that time spent in nature is an effective intervention to reduce mental health symptomology and promote psychological well-being (Bratman, Hamilton, & Daily, 2012; Hart, 2016). Simple activities such as walking in a forest environment can reduce stress-hormone levels and alleviate anxiety, depression, fatigue, and confusion, thanks in part to nature’s ability to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (Hart, 2016). Walking in a natural setting can also reduce rumination, a maladaptive focus on the causes and consequences of emotions that has been shown to predict the onset of depressive episodes, anxiety, and binge drinking (Bratman, Hamilton, Hahn, Daily, & Gross, 2015).…”

Section: Nature As An Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in psychiatric symptoms and psychological processes among veterans participating in a therapeutic adventure program.

Bettmann

Scheinfeld

Prince

et al. 2019

Psychological Services

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When veterans need effective mental health treatment, many are reluctant to engage in traditional treatment modalities because of stigma. Therapeutic adventure shows promise as a way to engage veterans and enact positive changes in functioning, but little is known about how therapeutic adventure impacts mental health symptoms among veterans. This study examined changes in mental health symptoms and related psychological processes over the course of a 6-day Outward Bound for Veterans (OB4V) program and at a 1-month follow-up. This study examined data from 77 U.S. military veterans with psychiatric diagnoses. The authors hypothesized that participants would report significant reductions in mental health symptoms over the course of the program and following its completion, as well as significant improvements in psychological processes that included initiative for psychological growth, psychological attitudes, attitudes toward help-seeking, psychological mindedness, and emotional suppression. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed on each of the dependent variables. Results showed that, from pre- to postprogram, participants reported significant improvement in life purpose satisfaction and self-confidence during stressful situations. Further, from preprogram to 1-month postprogram, veterans reported increased psychological mindedness, increased engagement to promote personal growth, decreased mental health symptomology, decreased emotional suppression, and an increase in positive attitude toward seeking professional psychological help. These improvements were significant during the OB4V program and even continued to improve after the program ended, showing the promise of therapeutic adventure as a modality to address veterans' mental health issues. (PsycINFO Database Record

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Section: Nature As An Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nature As An Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in psychiatric symptoms and psychological processes among veterans participating in a therapeutic adventure program.

Bettmann

Scheinfeld

Prince

et al. 2019

Psychological Services

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“…Green prescriptions are typically administered to patients with a defined need and can be used to complement orthodox medical practices [32,33]. Nature-based intervention activities can include therapeutic horticulture, biodiversity conservation activities, care farming (i.e., farming practices for health, socialising and education), nature walks, and social activities in greenspaces [34][35][36]-and although the social element is often important, it is not a necessity. To establish effective and sustainable green prescribing schemes, cooperative interactions between primary care professionals and nature-based organisations (NBOs) are typically required, and the ability to speak multiple disciplinary 'languages' is considered an essential asset [37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Let Nature Be Thy Medicine: A Socioecological Exploration of Green Prescribing in the UK

Robinson

Jørgensen

Cameron

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Prescribing nature-based health interventions (green prescribing)—such as therapeutic horticulture or conservation activities—is an emerging transdisciplinary strategy focussed on reducing noncommunicable diseases. However, little is known about the practice of, and socioecological constraints/opportunities associated with, green prescribing in the UK. Furthermore, the distribution of green prescribing has yet to be comprehensively mapped. In this study, we conducted a socioecological exploration of green prescribing. We deployed online questionnaires to collect data from general practitioners (GPs) and nature-based organisations (NBOs) around the UK and conducted spatial analyses. Our results indicate that GPs and NBOs perceive and express some common and distinct constraints to green prescribing. This highlights the need to promote cross-disciplinary communication pathways. Greenspace presence and abundance within close proximity (100 and 250 m) to GP surgeries (but not greenness—as a proxy for vegetation cover) and NBO presence within 5 km were associated with higher levels of green prescribing provision. Lower levels of deprivation were associated with higher frequency of NBOs. This suggests that the availability of greenspaces and NBOs could be important for green prescribing provision, but there could be greater opportunities in less deprived areas. Important foci for future research should be to establish transdisciplinary collaborative pathways, efficient infrastructure management and a common vocabulary in green prescribing—with the overall aim of reducing inequalities and enhancing planetary health.

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“…Specifically, research has shown that walking in nature can improve both physical and mental health, and may reduce stress hormone levels and improve immune function, mood disorders, and feelings of fatigue. 4 Do you feel like you do not have time to walk in the midst of a busy schedule? A little prioritizing at the beginning of the week can help you make the time to fit in a few walks.…”

Section: Questions To Askmentioning

confidence: 99%