Nature-Based Solutions for Mental Health Resonate with the Public
The BRC Open Day 2024 event was held at the Westgate Centre in Oxford on Thursday, May 30th. The Flourishing and Wellbeing theme nature-based interactive stand captivated the public, drawing in over 150 visitors. Highlights included microscopic observations of minerals and moss, listening to the sound of healthy soil, and mapping preferred blue and green spaces across Oxford. Even ‘Sammy the Snail,’ an accidental stowaway in the moss box, delighted both children and adults.
The positive feedback we have received throughout the day highlights the public’s appreciation for research into nature-based solutions for mental health. The event provided researchers with valuable data, which is currently being analysed. The three YPAG members who assisted with the event found it immensely rewarding as they engaged with the public.
Event Highlights in Numbers:
- 4 researchers
- 3 YPAG members
- 1 non-human animal collaborator (Sammy the Snail)
- 150+ visitors
- 32 preferred green and blue spaces mapped in Oxford
- over 100 microscope observations
This successful event demonstrated the public’s keen interest in and support for nature-based mental health research, making it a memorable day for all involved.
Read about the event from one of Young Persons’ Advisory Group member’s perspective in this blog post.
