Seeding hope: restoring nature to restore ourselves. Nature restoration as an essential mental health intervention

Abstract

This commentary offers stories of hope and regeneration in the face of the interconnected crises we face. Those of us in the health sector have the opportunity to undo the false separation that has arisen between the care we offer ourselves and the care we offer our natural spaces. Access to a healthy environment offers myriad health benefits and has been declared a human right. Beyond this, cultivating a sense of kinship with the natural world unlocks further mental health benefits and promotes a deep sense of meaning and vitality. Widespread restoration of nature, combined with the equitable reconnection of people to these restored environments, must become one of the most important aspects of public health in this century. This paper, written from a UK perspective, describes examples where people are already weaving these strands together and offers practical suggestions for healthcare professionals who want to know how this relates to their role and their everyday practice.

Keywords:

• Nature restoration
• nature connectedness
• mental health
• well-being
• solutions
• healthcare
• climate and biodiversity crises

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

Stella Botchway is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.