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  5. Wetlands for wellbeing: piloting a nature-based health intervention for the management of anxiety and depression
 
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Wetlands for wellbeing: piloting a nature-based health intervention for the management of anxiety and depression
File(s)
ijerph-16-04413-v2.pdf (1.52 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Maund, Phoebe R
Irvine, Katherine N
Reeves, Jonathan
Strong, Emily
Cromie, Ruth
more
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Nature-based health interventions (NBIs) for the treatment of poor mental health are becoming increasingly common, yet evidence to support their effectiveness is lacking. We conduct a pilot study of a six-week intervention, aiming to engage individuals with wetland nature for the treatment of anxiety and/or depression. We employed a mixed methods design, using questionnaires, focus groups and semi-structured interviews to evaluate the intervention from the perspective of participants (n = 16) and healthcare professionals (n = 2). Results demonstrate significant improvements in mental health across a range of indicators, including mental wellbeing (Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and emotional wellbeing (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). Participants and healthcare professionals cited additional outcomes including improved physical health and reduced social isolation. The wetland site provided a sense of escape from participants' everyday environments, facilitating relaxation and reductions in stress. Wetland staff knowledge of the natural world, transportation and group organisation also played a considerable role in the intervention's success. These aspects should be considered in future and existing NBIs to maximise benefits to participants. We propose NBIs based in wetlands are an effective therapy option for individuals diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression.
Date Issued
2019-11-02
Date Acceptance
2019-11-08
Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019, 16 (22)
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/111858
URL
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/22/4413
DOI
https://www.dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224413
ISSN
1660-4601
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
16
Issue
22
Copyright Statement
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31718035
Subjects
Adult
Anxiety
Depression
Female
Focus Groups
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wetlands
attention restoration theory
biodiversity
blue space
ecosystem services
green space
mental health
mixed methods
nature-based therapy
social prescribing
stress
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Switzerland
Article Number
4413
Date Publish Online
2019-11-11
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