Overview
Since its formation in June 2024, the working group has focused on exploring and advancing nature-based interventions to improve mental health and well-being in children and young people, particularly those on CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) waiting lists.
By connecting medical practitioners, researchers, therapists, and link workers, the group creates opportunities for collaboration, evidence-building, and leveraging funding to support these initiatives.
Project Aims
- Collaboration: Foster collaboration across disciplines to enhance the impact of nature-based interventions on young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
- Provide evidence: Develop and share evidence-based resources for the design and delivery of effective nature-based interventions.
- Maximise outcomes: Align ongoing research, interventions, and strategic priorities to maximise outcomes.
Current Projects in Focus
Marlborough House Nature Connectedness Pathway: Developing sensory-based care pathways for CAMHS inpatients, with ongoing trials and integration plans in 2025.
Scoping potential collaboration with Wellbeing Whilst Waiting Study (Prof Daisy Fancourt, UCL, Principal Investigator): Testing social prescribing pathways with CYP on NHS waiting lists, focusing on ecological and well-being outcomes based in the e-co-flourishing model.
Key Activities and Outcomes
- Desk Reviews: We have two ongoing reviews underway: the first examines the use of nature-based interventions in schools for at-risk youths (11 – 18 years), and the second is reviewing green space provision in psychiatric intensive care settings.
- Resource Sharing: We have a shared platform (SharePoint) that facilitates access to key resources and stakeholder information.
- Stakeholder Mapping: Using participatory and stakeholder mapping to identify and engage local providers, youth services, and nature-based CAMHS projects.
- Service User Feedback: Exploring existing and new feedback opportunities to ensure interventions meet the needs of CYP and families.
- Staff Training: We have plans to integrate professional development into the intervention design.
Regular Meetings
The Children and Young People Green Prescribing Working Group meets monthly, with additional planning sessions scheduled as needed to align with key project milestones and priorities. This regular schedule ensures steady progress while allowing flexibility to address emerging needs and opportunities for collaboration.
Key Researchers:
Dr Katrin Wilhelm, OH BRC Flourishing and Wellbeing Theme
Dr Lizzie Moore, Health and Nature Project Manager, Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership
Dr Gillian Combe, Psychiatrist; OH NHS
