into the wild restoring young minds in the surrey hills...into the natural environment...
TRANSCRIPT
Into the Wild – Restoring Young Minds in the Surrey Hills
Birgitta Gatersleben
Genevieve Lebus
Environmental Psychology Research Group
University of Surrey
• Type of contact• Accessibility: living near nature• Exposure: viewing• Engagement: walking, gardening, den building, …
• Type of benefits• Directly
• Emotional • Cognitive• Connectedness
• Indirectly • Social contact• Physical activity • Meaningful activities
0
10
20
30
40
50
1995-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 2010-2015
Growing evidencePapers published in Env. Psy
restorative environment
attention restoration theory
green space & wellbeing
Nature is good for us
• Preventing mental health problems • Two-thirds of mental health problems start in adolescence• Linked to bullying, neglect, substance abuse, ….
• Helping young people to thrive• Maximise their potential• Build confidence, resilience and self-esteem• Support establishment of healthy habits
• Young people• Independent, finding place in the world
Beddington et al., 2008; Department of Health, 2011; MHF, 2017; MQ transforming mental health, 2016
Focus on young people (10 – 24)
• Around 200K young people in Surrey (10-24)
• Around 10K 5-15 year olds diagnosed mental health disorder
• Surrey affluent• 150 of 152 UK counties on Index of Multiple Deprivation
• But – pockets of deprivation• Wards with up to 40% children living in deprivation• Some are within 20% of the most deprived areas in the UK• In 2018 7,019 children classified “child in need” • Social inequality, linked to depression, anxiety and panic disorder
Young people in Surrey
Surrey County Council, 2018; Community Foundation for Surrey, 2013
• Lots of evidence• Review of 35 publications (0-18 year olds) by Tillman et al. (2018)
• Accessibility, exposure and engagement
• Benefits: emotional well-being, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity disorder, overall mental health, self-esteem, stress, resilience, depression and health-related quality of life
• For instance, • Li et al (2018) 155 adolescents 13-19 in the US
• GPS tracker for 4 days + activity and mood diary
• Higher exposure to green space linked to better mood
Nature and young people – some evidence
Roberts, et al. (2019). Nature activities and wellbeing in children and young people: a systematic literature review. J Adventure Educ. Outdoor Learning; Tillmann et al (2018). Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review. J Epidemiol Community Health.
• Greenwood & Gatersleben (2014)
• 120 teenagers completed stressor tasks and then spent 25 minutes in school room or garden alone, with a phone or with a friend
• Positive mood increased most outdoors with a friend
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
time 1 time 2
Positive affect before and after rest period
inside alone inside with friend
inside with phone outside alone
outside with friend outside with phone
School courtyard
Greenwood, A., & Gatersleben, B. (2016). Let's go outside! Environmental restoration amongst adolescents and the impact of friends and phones. J Env. Psy, 48, 131-139.
• Woodland covers 22% of the county
• Over 25% of the county Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• A natural health resource for young people
Nature in Surrey
• Search of organisations in Surrey
• Sixteen surveys and six interviews to assess perceived benefits, opportunities and challenges• Almost all believed nature-engagement is beneficial, rewarding and fun • Almost all would like to do it more
Opportunities and challenges in Surrey
Youth groups (nature engagement) 35
Youth groups (no nature) 102
Groups that take youth outside 81
Opportunities and challenges
0 50 100
Volunteers
Funding
Equipment
Awareness among young people
Awareness among parents
Suitable location
Support from an organisation
Time
Access for disabilities
Other (weather)
What would help you bring (more) young people into the natural environment (agree/disagree)?
Volunteers Volunteers to transport and help with small
groups once we get out into the country
Other
support
A partnership organisation - to work in
collaboration to share skills/ equipment/
staffing - not able to do it on my own!
Transport Transport is very important. As an organisation
we do not own a minibus so heavily rely on the
good will of schools to loan us their transport.
Funding Funding is also a huge factor. As we are a
charity we are constantly having to find funding
to run anything.
• Taking more young people into the wild
Extra staffing and training
guidance concerning safeguarding requirements
Safe, supervised locations with facilities
Equipment
A night under the stars
The young people - build up their confidence and overcome perceived barriers
Lots of volunteers who understand the children
• There are a lot of young people in need of support
• Surrey has a lot to offer in terms of natural health resources
• We should get together to close the gap between existing needs and opportunities
• Suitable environments, volunteers, transport opportunities, facilities, equipment, training, awareness
Conclusion