Search

Internationally, over 60% of all lifetime cases of mental health disorders are identified as emerging by 25 years of age. In Australia, young people (aged 16–24 years) report the highest prevalence of mental health problems. Acceptability of mainstream services for young people is a concern, particularly for clients 18–25 years, heterosexual males and certain marginalised communities. With unaddressed distress in young people a precursor to poor, potentially lifelong mental ill-health trajectories, the provision of acceptable, and accessible mental health services remains a critical system imperative.

Health promotion has adopted the planetary health perspective to address the threats posed by climate change, environmental degradation and environmental deprivation. Nature is a setting for health promotion that can produce co‐benefits for human health and the protection of the environment. This paper presents the findings of a New South Wales (NSW) study of peoples’ motivations for, and co‐benefits of, environmental volunteering. This paper combines the findings of a literature review and qualitative data from a larger mixed‐methods study of environmental volunteering (eg administration and co‐ordination, bush regeneration, advocacy, tour guiding) in NSW. A review of international literature from 2005 yielded 100 documents for analysis. Maximum variation and stratified purposeful sampling strategies were applied to engage 12 environmental volunteers and 30 employees of environmental organisations in a series of focus groups (n = 2) and interviews (n = 22). Qualitative thematic analysis techniques were applied and data triangulated. Motivations for environmental volunteering include the following: personal, for example, new skills or knowledge, environmental, for example, improve the environment and social/community, for example, forming connections. Environmental volunteering offers a range of benefits for individuals, environmental organisations and the natural environment. These include enhanced mental and social health, and connection to place and learning about the environment. Environmental volunteering has the potential to address key determinants of health – social inclusion, employment and education. From a planetary health perspective, there are multiple co‐benefits of human‐environmental interaction arising from environmental volunteering. Environmental volunteering is a planetary health strategy that could be incorporated into community‐based health promotion. Health promotion has a mandate to act on ecological determinants of health. Environmental volunteering is an untapped resource for community‐based health promotion and for achieving planetary health goals.

Internationally, universities have recognised the benefits of Pet Support Programs (PSPs). However, existing literature has predominately focused on quantitatively measuring health outcomes associated with a PSP amongst student populations. This research aimed to explore the feasibility of a PSP within an Australian university, as there is a need to explore practical considerations involved in implementation. This research used a qualitative descriptive approach. Participants were recruited via purposive snowball sampling. The sample included 17 participants across eight administrative divisions within an Australian university. Semi‐structured individual interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged from the data: Organisational Change, Program Management and Perceived Outcomes. Findings suggest several considerations from both an organisational and program level that need to be addressed prior to implementation, including the university's policies, the location and animal welfare. The main perceived outcomes were stress relief and social support. Ways to minimise risks to those who may have an aversion towards animals were also discussed. Participants believed implementing a PSP would be feasible in the university setting, provided all aforementioned considerations were adequately addressed. Considerations identified have the potential to act as a barrier or a facilitator depending on how they are managed. Where feasible and later implemented, a PSP could provide Australian university students and staff with an alternative means of improving mental health, providing stress relief and contributing towards the Health Promoting University framework.

Objective: To identify, examine, and map the characteristics of knowledge of nature-based design in stroke rehabilitation facilities, examine how research in this field has been conducted and identify gaps in knowledge.Background: Many stroke survivors have wide ranging impacts, resulting in long hospital stays to undertake rehabilitation. The physical environment can influence brain recovery; however, there is limited evidence to support the design of effective rehabilitation environments. Conversely, the health benefits available from connection with nature are well established. A nature-based design approach may have benefits and implications for the physical environment of inpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities; however, it is unclear what evidence exists in this field.Method: This scoping review followed the JBI methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews, with systematic searches of six databases.Results: Twenty-eight studies were included in the review. Aims and research methods varied widely. Investigations in 19 studies related to gardens and other designed outdoor nature-based environments. Other studies explored natural analogues, nature inside, inside/outside connections, and the natural environment. Findings from the studies were spread across the fields of design, use, exposure to, and engagement in nature-based environments.Conclusion: The characteristics of knowledge underpinning nature-based design in stroke rehabilitation environments are highly diverse, and significant gaps exist in the evidence base. A framework developed during this review for mapping knowledge on the intentions and impacts for spaces and services in this field assisted to identify these gaps and may be applied to other areas of healthcare design research.

Public health concerns about insufficient consumption of vegetables across all demographics in Australia have led to 20 years of behaviour change interventions ranging from social marketing to interactive small group programs, with modest results. To maximise health promotion intervention outcomes, practitioners need up‐to‐date information that helps them navigate the complexity of food systems and eating behaviours. This scoping review of Australian and international research, including peer‐reviewed and grey literature, provides a picture of health promotion nutrition interventions, as well as other initiatives that may promote increased vegetable consumption. Search terms related to nutrition and vegetable consumption, type of intervention or initiative, for example, campaign; and consumer values and behaviour. A wide range of data sources were used including scholarly papers, market research reports and publicly available websites of community organisations (eg, OOOOBY). A broad food systems typology was developed to provide a framework for the review. The review finds an emerging group of community‐driven initiatives within local food systems that appear to have positive impacts on vegetable consumption. These initiatives sit within a multi‐faceted approach to health and well‐being that is consistent with the tenets of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, including community engagement, social justice and sustainability goals. More research into the impact of these new frontiers is needed, but our preliminary findings point to the potential for health promotion practitioners to collaborate on local/community food system initiatives that are not motivated primarily by health goals, but have the potential to deliver multiple health and environmental outcomes. This review demonstrated community‐driven initiatives around local food systems show the most promise in promoting vegetable consumption and addressing the determinants of health. Health promotion efforts to encourage food security and healthy eating could be strengthened through collaborations within these new frontiers.

In addition to food, physical activity, mental health and environmental benefits, community gardens (CGs) provide opportunities for social inclusion and increased social capital. These are particularly important to the socially isolated residents of social housing developments (SHDs). This scoping study explored the feasibility of a CGprogram for tenants of SHD in inner eastern Melbourne by assessing their interest in, and requirements for, inclusively designed CGs. In this phenomenological enquiry, focus group discussions, supported by photo‐elicitation, were employed. Three focus groups (N = 19) were conducted with self‐selected participants who consented to participate. Two focus groups were conducted with English‐speaking tenants while a third focus group was conducted with Mandarin‐speaking tenants. There was a demand for CGs by the English‐speaking participants driven by desire for networking, social connectedness and inclusion; for improved access to fresh produce, connection with nature, physical activity and mental well‐being. Participants expressed interest in a garden located near their SHDwith supportive physical and social environments including disability access, plot autonomy, fencing, socio‐cultural events, training programs and management opportunities. However, the Mandarin‐speaking tenants maintained that age, language difficulty and neighbourhood insecurity posed significant barriers to their participation. Guided by the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, social inclusion and community development theories, the study recommends that to establish socially inclusive CGs, a dynamic relationship of the design principles of a CGand the socio‐ecological determinants of health should be established to address any barriers and successfully facilitate engagement. In addition, CGprograms need to be guided by community development principles. Future research could employ community‐based participatory research models in the implementation and evaluation of a CGprogram for socially isolated population groups.

This review describes the facilitators and barriers impacting on passive access to green spaces within healthcare settings. A systematic mixed-studies review was undertaken to review the quantitative and qualitative evidence on access to green spaces within healthcare settings, as well as to review the methodological quality of the studies eligible for inclusion. A total of 24 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The barriers to access were grouped into three themes: “awareness,” “accessibility,” and “comfort.” The facilitators were grouped into 13 themes: “flora and foliage,” “views,” “water features,” “sun, rain, fresh air, wind,” “animal life,” “diverse textures, heights, shapes,” “lawn,” “natural versus artificial material,” “rest areas,” “shade,” “private areas,” “play equipment,” and “safety.” These findings can be explained through multiple lenses, using existing theories on contact with nature and supportive garden design. In an era of elevated stress, patient admissions, and staff turnover in hospitals, and rising costs of providing healthcare services, the creation of settings conducive to health promotion, stress reduction, and faster recovery is relevant and timely. This article, which has collated over three decades of research evidence, is invaluable in addressing this issue.

The climate is changing more rapidly than anticipated, making it the greatest existential threat of our time. Evidence suggests that climate change can be a source of poor mental health among young people. A variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are related to the anticipation and consequences of climate change-related events. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence regarding these effects on young people who are vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change.

We live in a world that is constantly changing and is challenging established approaches to managing human and ecological health. Two key drivers of change are urbanisation and global climate change. This commentary is concerned with the interrelationship of these drivers with human and ecological health, proposing that health promotion practitioners need to actively seek a new role in the process of creating urban environments that support social and ecological well-being. It provides practitioners with an up-to-date synthesis of climate change science and future projections, the literature around the health impacts of climate change and potential health challenges to urban communities. We argue that health promotion cannot respond to the challenges created by climate change and urbanisation, nor can it meet its own mandate without shifting from an anthropogenic-focussed approach toward embracing a multi-scale, collaborative approach outside the health sector. We suggest that the underlying principles of health promotion, which include equity and community engagement at all scales, are critical to the evolution of thriving urban environments. Food security is given as an example to demonstrate the proposed shift away from an anthropogenic and urban focus toward a socio-ecological approach (i.e. resilience thinking) that provides a framework for collaboration between sectors working with unpredictable global systems. In so doing, the commentary provides practitioners with guidance on the complex science of climate change and its impact on health in urban settings, as well as highlighting the skills that they can bring to creating resilient urban settlements in these times of change.

The design of hospital environments with an increased focus on incorporating nature and natural features has been reported to have multiple health and well-being benefits. This paper reports on three Australian case studies that each investigated the relationship between green spaces and people's mental health. The results suggest that gardens or other green spaces should be included within plans for future healthcare design. While we acknowledge that there are a range of considerations in the allocation of healthcare resources and programmes for maximum benefit, we believe that those programmes which highlight the beneficial outcomes for people with mental illness of ‘feeling blue and touching green’ are worth implementing.

The article presents a study conducted by researchers from Deakin University, Melbourne and organisation Parks and Leisure Australia to study the health, wellbeing and economic benefits from park use.