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

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14 <strong>Ecominds</strong> <strong>effects</strong> on mental wellbeing1.4.1 Ecotherapy interventionsSocial and therapeutic horticulture (STH)Essentially, social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) isusing gardening and plants to help individuals developwellbeing and this can be done through spendingtime in gardens, participating in gardening activitiesor doing something more active such as growingfood 47 . Horticulture in a variety of contexts has proveditself to be a useful activity in promoting health andwellbeing, rehabilitation; and in enabling vulnerable anddisadvantaged individuals to reach their true potential.Because of the diversity of activities associated withhorticulture and the settings in which it can be carriedout, horticulture can be adapted to suit a wide rangeof clients and it has been used to achieve physical,social and psychological benefits for people withmental health problems, learning difficulties, physicaldisabilities, survivors of stroke, drug and alcoholproblems, social problems and others 48 .Animal assisted interventions (AAI)Animal assisted interventions (AAI) is the generalterm used for a variety of ways of utilising animalsin the rehabilitation or social care of humans 49 . AAIincludes both i) activities in which animals are presentand are considered to have a therapeutic effect (e.g.feeding livestock, petting animals, collecting eggsetc.) and ii) the more formal animal assisted therapy(AAT) which is a specific goal-directed interventionwhere an animal is an integral part of the treatmentprocess which is directed, documented and evaluatedby professionals (e.g. equine assisted therapy, pettherapy, and dolphin therapy) 50 .Care farmingCare farming is defined as the therapeutic use ofagricultural landscapes and farming practices 51 andits use is increasing within the UK 52 . On care farms,components of either the whole or part of the farmare used to provide care through a supervised,structured programme of farming-related activitiesfor a wide range of people. All care farms offer someelements of farming (involving crops, horticulture,livestock husbandry, use of machinery or woodlandmanagement etc); however, there is much varietyacross care farms in terms of the context, the clientgroup and the type of farm 53 . Mental health benefitsfrom attending care farms within the UK includesignificant improvements in both self esteem andmood 54 and research from European care farm studieswith different client groups imply that care farms havespecific qualities that many participants benefit from 55 .These include the relationship between the farmerand the client, being part of a social community andengaging in meaningful activities in a green environment.The fact that the farm provides an informal, non-carecontext, closer to ‘real life’, is also valued.Nature arts and craftsNature arts and crafts, are as the name would suggest,typically art based activities that take place whilstin the natural environment, and/or that use naturalmaterials such as grass, clay, leaves and sticks 56 . Manyecotherapy approaches or contexts include elements ofnature art and craft within their programmes.Green exercise therapyGreen exercise has previously been defined asengaging in physical activities whilst simultaneouslybeing exposed to nature. Green exercise therapy asa treatment option typically involves participating ingreen exercise activities which are facilitated and ledby an instructor (e.g. walking groups). Therapeuticapplications of green exercise (particularly walking)as green exercise therapy may prove to be an evenmore effective treatment response than exercisealone in mild to moderate depression as it encouragespeople to re-connect with nature and experience theadditional positive health benefits that are associatedwith this 57 .EcotherapyEcotherapy (in its specific rather than generalisedmeaning) is a psychological approach that is rootedin the experience of nature, which acknowledges theinterdependence of human health with the health of theenvironment. Ecotherapy initiatives use activities andexercises that emphasise the notion of “mutual healingand growth” 58 where the reciprocity between humanand nature enhances an individual’s wellbeing, whichthen promotes positive action towards the environmentwhich in turn improves community wellbeing 59 .47 Mind 2013a48 Sempik et al, 2005;Sempik and Bragg 201349 Kruger and Serpell, 200650 Sempik and Bragg 201351 Hassink, 2003, Haubenhofer et al 2010, Care Farming UK 201252 Hine et al., 2008a53 Sempik et al 2010, Hine et al 2008a54 Pretty, 2006, Peacock et al., 2007, Hine et al., 2008a55 Elings 201256 Mind 2013a57 Barton et al, 2011; Peacock et al, 2007; Mind, 2007; Sempik and Bragg 201358 Chalquist 200959 Pedretti-Burls 2008
An evaluation for Mind 15Environmental conservationFacilitated environmental conservation work isincreasingly being used as a form of ecotherapy fora variety of marginalised groups where structured,facilitated activities take place, specifically designedwith the conservation or management of the naturalplaces in mind. Environmental conservation activitiesinclude land clearing, maintaining woodland areasand other managed areas and restoring habitats forwildlife. Environmental conservation approaches areoften very similar to ecotherapy or green exercisetherapy for the mutual benefit of both natureand health. Several therapeutic applications ofenvironmental conservation activities are organised inpartnership with organisations such as the ForestryCommission (with offenders) 60 and The ConservationVolunteers (Green Gyms) 61 .a systematic approach to work with a varietyof groups but also most commonly with adolescentswith behavioural problems and adults with mentalill health 64.Although the area of ecotherapy is very diverse,the common linking ethos is the contact with nature -using a coherent and deliberate strategy to generatehealth, social or educational benefits using nature.Linking the exposure to nature with various facilitatedand structured activities, in a safe way, can offertherapeutic benefits for many different vulnerablegroups. By increasing participation and awareness,ecotherapy initiatives have the potential to improvehealth and wellbeing for individuals and to significantlyreduce public health costs by encouraging healthiercommunities.Wilderness therapyWilderness therapy can be defined as an “experientialprogramme that takes place in wilderness ora remote outdoor setting” 62 , where a range ofpersonal development and wellbeing opportunitiesare provided, through immersion in natural, wild,and wilderness settings. Wilderness therapyprogrammes are often composed oftwo elements, i) using nature as‘co-therapist’ and ii) using therapeuticactivities (including formal therapy)whilst in a wilderness location.Wilderness therapy programmestypically provide healthyexercise and diets, group andindividual therapy sessionsand separate participants fromdaily negative influences,placing them in a safe outdoorenvironment 63 . Wildernesstherapy programmes havebeen in existence in theUS for many years, largelyworking with adolescents withbehavioural problems, howeverin Europe, it is an emergingtreatment intervention which uses60 Carter and Hanna 2007 and seewww.targetwellbeing.org.uk/profile/greener_outside61 BTCV 200862 Conner 200763 Sempik and Bragg 2013; Sempik et al 201064 Hine et al, 2011
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