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Health and well‐being naturally: ‘contact with nature’ in health promotion for targeted individuals, communities and populations
Author(s) -
Pryor Anita,
Townsend Mardie,
Maller Cecily,
Field Karen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he06114
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , mental health , health promotion , medicine , intervention (counseling) , public health , population health , health care , promotion (chess) , psychology , nursing , environmental health , psychiatry , political science , politics , law
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 naturecontact 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 selfreported 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. So what? ‘Contact with nature’ may offer a holistic, effective and accessible stream of interventions, at present under‐utilised, to enhance public health. This paper proposes a socio‐ecological approach to health that incorporates ‘contact with nature’ as a strategy across the entire spectrum of mental health interventions.