Unlocking the nature cure: barriers and mechanisms of nature-based interventions for adult mental health

Evidence demonstrates that nature-based interventions can be an effective treatment option for adults with mental illness. However, barriers to referral, uptake and attendance of these interventions need to be understood and addressed. This thesis explores the current knowledge base on the barriers and highlights the gap in the literature on the psychological, psychosocial, and physical barriers. Through a qualitative methodology, the psychosocial barriers were identified as the most common barrier. Social identity theory and tools from occupational therapy were then adopted in an experimental study design to test whether certain social barriers could be reduced, eliminated, or turned into enablers. Furthermore, the study explored whether the adopted theory would have an effect on a person’s meaning in life, purpose in life, self-esteem and mental wellbeing. In a novel programme created at a community garden, participants gained the opportunity to experience being providers of social aid instead of recipients of social aid. The findings suggest that by using existing psychological theory from across several disciplines, it is possible to turn social barriers into enablers and increase positive affect. The thesis argues that the benefits to be gained from engaging in nature-based interventions, may need ‘unlocking’ and a new integrated model of nature-based interventions for adult mental health is presented based on the theory utilised within the study.