Innovations in Practice: Beyond the clinic – embracing natural environments in mental health care for children and young people

Abstract

Background: Engaging children and young people (CYP) with natural environments while in healthcare can offer significant therapeutic benefits. Despite evidence supporting nature-based interventions, their use in CYP healthcare settings remains inconsistent. This article outlines how to integrate an eco-biopsychosocial model in healthcare, combining ecological aspects with traditional biopsychosocial frameworks to improve health outcomes, placing CYP within their social and ecological contexts, and promoting holistic, person-centred care. Methods: Through a series of meetings, clinicians and practitioners involved in nature-based approaches (NBAs) projects in the UK shared their expertise. They reflected on their experiences and identified patterns in the learning related to implementing these activities and embedding them into practice. The projects included: (1) Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. (2) Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. (3) Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. Results: We discuss the importance of NBAs within national healthcare frameworks and provide successful examples from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. These case studies highlight the potential for a positive impact on wellbeing, resilience and staff satisfaction. Key strategies for implementing the model include relational, procedural, and environmental factors for creating a culture of nature-based practice. Conclusions: This innovation in practice article emphasises the need for governance, evaluation and dissemination to ensure the sustainability of these initiatives. By adopting this integrative approach, we aim to reduce health inequalities and promote a shift towards a nature-inclusive strategy in healthcare, which promotes the long-term wellbeing of CYP as well as supports more sustainable services.