Ecominds-effects-on-mental-wellbeing-evaluation-report

An evaluation for Mind 91. Nature and mental wellbeing1.1 IntroductionIncreasingly sedentary lifestyles, poor diets and theprevalence of mental health problems are seriouslyhindering the health of the world’s population. Itis believed that at any one time, at least one in sixindividuals is suffering from a ‘significant’ mentalhealth problem 1 , and in the UK one in four peoplewill experience mental illness at some time in theirlives 2 . Mental ill health compromises an individual’squality of life, is a leading cause of disability andaffects not only the individual but families aswell. Mental health problems also inflict additionaleconomic and social costs both directly (health andsocial care; human cost) and indirectly (throughoutput losses). Unhappily, problems surroundingsocial exclusion and discrimination of those livingwith a mental health problem are still significantchallenges to overcome.There are many different interventions for tacklingmental ill health but one approach increasinglybeing used by professionals is that of ‘ecotherapy’(or Green care), which comprises nature-basedinterventions in a variety of natural settings. Thereis a mounting body of evidence that highlights thebenefits of contact with nature, such as improvedhealth and wellbeing, enhanced connection both withother people and with nature, adoption of healthierlifestyles and an increase in the desire to protectnature. The natural environment is available to mostof us on our doorsteps and at minimal cost. Couldone answer to improving our population’s mentalhealth be to encourage people to interact with natureand green space and to get active outdoors 3 ? Couldecotherapy interventions help more people livingwith a mental health problem recover and to becomeless isolated from society? Is there another optionavailable to enable mental health professionals to helpservice users?Through Mind’s lottery-funded <strong>Ecominds</strong> scheme, 130such ecotherapy projects, specifically for people withmental health problems, have been supported. Thisstudy puts this scheme into context and evaluates thewellbeing <strong>effects</strong> to participants from these naturebasedinterventions.1.2 Mental ill-health in the UKIn England it is believed that in any one year, at leastone in four people will experience a ‘significant’ mentalhealth problem 4 . Sufferers of anxiety and depressionare commonplace and by 2020 it is predicted thatdepression will be the second most common cause ofdisability in the developed world 5 . It is estimated thatthe total cost of mental health problems in England in2009-10 was approximately £105.2 billion 6 . The majorityof these costs fall mainly on those who experiencemental health problems and their families, but italso generates sizeable costs for taxpayers and forbusiness. With poor mental health often carrying moreof a cost to society than crime 7 it is also therefore amajor public health issue (See Box 1).Public spending on mental health services iscontinually rising and the cost of antidepressantshas grown dramatically. In England alone, during2009/2010 it is estimated that £21.3 billion wasspent on mental health services in total, with £1.2billion on drug prescriptions 8 . In 2010 the number ofantidepressant prescriptions dispensed in Englandwas 42.8 million and by 2011 this number had risen to46.7 million. This represents a cost of £270.2 millionand implies an increase in cost of 22.6 per cent injust one year 9 . Between 2010 and 2011 antidepressantdrug prescriptions and their costs saw the largestincrease of any drug category. Despite thesespending increases, the NHS share of budget formental health care is far lower proportionally whenthe significant mental health burden of disease isconsidered: poor mental health accounts for 23 percent of the burden of disease whilst only accountingfor 13 per cent of the NHS budget in England 10 .1 WHO 2001;2 WHO 2004, Mental Health Foundation 20133 Bermann et al 20084 Mental Health Foundation 2013; ONS 20095 World Bank 19936 The Centre for Mental Health 20107 Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health 20038 Centre for Mental Health 20109 NHS 201210 Centre for Economic Performance’s Mental Health Policy Group 2012