Outdoor mental healthcare: What, who, why and where to?

Objective: Outdoor mental healthcare can increase the breadth of multidisciplinary interventions available to people with a therapeutic need. The aim of this article is to educate readers about the field of outdoor mental healthcare through the exploration of a series of basic questions.Conclusions: Outdoor mental healthcare spans a range of therapies that apply a variety of theoretical approaches and treatments across a multiplicity of settings, patient groups and desired outcomes unified by key evidence-informed practice elements. Through use of a predominantly non-mainstream workforce working in non-conventional clinical settings outdoor mental healthcare may contribute to treatment accessibility and acceptability.

Health and well-being naturally: 'contact with nature' in health promotion for targeted individuals, communities and populations.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The increase in mental health disorders worldwide makes it important to recognise health promotion interventions that are effective, accessible and affordable. Although natural spaces are coming to be recognised as health-promoting settings for general populations, little is understood about the use of nature-contact in treatment and care for individuals experiencing ill-health. METHODS: This paper provides a summary of key research findings and presents a case study examining the self-reported health and well-being benefits of nature contact for a small clinical sample. The 'Spectrum of Interventions for Mental Health Problems and Mental Disorders' provides a conceptual framework for ordering current and future information relating to nature-based interventions. RESULTS: Evidence demonstrates that separately, physical activity, social connection, and contact with nature enhance human health and well-being. The case example illustrates how 'active', 'social' and 'adventurous' contact with nature may be combined within a treatment intervention to protect and enhance the health of individuals experiencing chronic mental, emotional and physical health difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: 'Contact with nature' constitutes a health promotion strategy with potential application in prevention, early intervention, treatment and care. Recommendations include further research to investigate the benefits of nature contact within existing interventions, and the impacts of 'active' and 'social' nature contact within tailored interventions for targeted individuals and communities.

Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations.

Whilst urban-dwelling individuals who seek out parks and gardens appear to intuitively understand the personal health and well-being benefits arising from 'contact with nature', public health strategies are yet to maximize the untapped resource nature provides, including the benefits of nature contact as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. This paper presents a summary of empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence drawn from a literature review of the human health benefits of contact with nature. Initial findings indicate that nature plays a vital role in human health and well-being, and that parks and nature reserves play a significant role by providing access to nature for individuals. Implications suggest contact with nature may provide an effective population-wide strategy in prevention of mental ill health, with potential application for sub-populations, communities and individuals at higher risk of ill health. Recommendations include further investigation of 'contact with nature' in population health, and examination of the benefits of nature-based interventions. To maximize use of 'contact with nature' in the health promotion of populations, collaborative strategies between researchers and primary health, social services, urban planning and environmental management sectors are required. This approach offers not only an augmentation of existing health promotion and prevention activities, but provides the basis for a socio-ecological approach to public health that incorporates environmental sustainability.