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Background: As part of a multifaceted approach to patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), alongside traditional methods, a closed Facebook group was established to facilitate PPIE feedback on various aspects of a project that used video‐recording to examine risk communication in NHS Health Checks between June 2017 and July 2019. Objective: To explore the process and impact of conducting PPIE through a closed Facebook group and to identify the associated benefits and challenges. Methods: Supported by reflections and information from project meetings used to document how this engagement informed the project, we describe the creation and maintenance of the Facebook Group and how feedback from the group members was obtained. Facebook data were used to investigate levels and types of engagement in the closed Facebook group. We reflect on the challenges of using this method of engaging the public in health research. Results: A total of 289 people joined the 'Risk Communication of Cardiovascular disease in NHS Health Checks' PPIE closed Facebook group. They provided feedback, which was used to inform aspects of the study, including participant‐facing documents, recruitment, camera position and how the methodology being used (video‐recorded Health Checks and follow‐up interviews) would be received by the public. Discussion: Using a closed Facebook group to facilitate PPIE offered a flexible approach for both researchers and participants, enabled a more inclusive method to PPIE (compared with traditional methods) and allowed rapid feedback. Challenges included maintaining the group, which was more labour intensive than anticipated and managing members' expectations. Suggestions for best practice include clear communication about the purpose of the group, assigning a group co‐ordinator to be the main point of contact for the group, and a research team who can dedicate the time necessary to maintain the group. Conclusion: The use of a closed Facebook group can facilitate effective PPIE. Its flexibility can be beneficial for researchers, patients and public who wish to engage in the research process. Dedicated time for sustained group engagement is important. Patient or Public Contribution: Patient representatives were engaged with the development of the research described in this paper and a patient representative reviewed the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of exposure to nature for health and well‐being have been demonstrated across multiple disciplines. Recent work has sought to establish one 'dose' or type of nature exposure that is universally beneficial, which has proven difficult.We use the principles of psychopharmacology to look beyond the use of dose as a concept for prescribing nature. Instead, we posit a multidimensional model of bioavailability of nature to shift the focus beyond universal effects, and instead consider the relationship between health and nature as dynamic, changeable and heavily contextual.We propose that the bioavailability of nature interactions is constructed through understanding route of administration, dose and concentration.By delineating the mechanisms of health benefit derived from the type of behavioural interaction (through being, doing and living), the route of administration of nature interactions may be highly variable not just between, but also within, individuals.We propose concentration as being a meeting between the subjective aspects of the individual and the subjective qualities of the nature at that specific time and place. We use a 'green equation', for mapping the processes and pathways that belie the interaction between the person and their environment. Here, the nature/health association as a dynamic interaction, and we operationalise this within a multidimensional construct of bioavailability.We provide an overview of this testable model and summarise with preliminary evidence as well as a research agenda for the future. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst the evidence for the efficacy of treatment interventions for individuals with dual diagnosis has been developing in recent decades, little is known about individual perceptions and the personal benefits of attending integrated treatment programmes within this population group. A qualitative methodology, Interpretive phenomenological analysis, was used to investigate the experiences of individuals with a range of complex mental health and coexisting substance misuse problems who took part in a psychoeducational group (PEG) programme. This comprised of social support and therapeutic peer group relationship facilitation. Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 15 service users who successfully participated in this treatment programme. Findings identify the complexity of the therapeutic process and understanding of the treatment from the service users perspective. This included the importance of forming meaningful therapeutic relationships as an influential factor in countering a range of distressing and incompatible environmental and situational stressors, such as self‐regulatory control, self‐awareness of a need for change and the importance of integrated treatment in reducing the sense of stigma and exclusion linked with using mental health services. The study findings support the use of integrated treatment programmes in mental health services with a dual diagnosis population group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arts for health interventions are emerging as an alternative option to medical management of mental health problems and well-being. This study investigated process and outcomes of an art intervention on patients referred by primary care professionals, including associations between patient characteristics (e.g. sex), progress through the intervention (e.g. attendance), and changes in mental well-being. Referral criteria included people with anxiety, depression, or stress; low self-esteem, confidence, or overall well-being; and chronic illness or pain. The study took place in UK-based general practitioner practices, with a total of 202 patients referred to a 10-week intervention. Patient sociodemographic information was recorded at baseline, and patient progress assessed throughout the intervention. Significant improvement in well-being was revealed for the 7-item (t = −6.049, d.f. = 83, P < 0.001, two-tailed) and 14-item (t = −6.961, d.f. = 83, P < 0.001, two-tailed) scales. Of referred patients, 77.7% attended and 49.5% completed. Most patients were female, and from a range of socioeconomic groups, and those who completed were significantly older (t = −2.258, d.f. = 145, P = 0.025, two-tailed). Findings reveal that this art intervention was effective in the promotion of well-being and in targeting women, older people, and people from lower socioeconomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper systematically reviews the existing evidence of the effects of physical activity on psychological well-being for those with schizophrenia. A search of 15 databases including for example, PsycINFO, SportDiscus, and Science Direct was conducted to identify studies investigating the effects of physical activity on psychological well-being for those with schizophrenia. The included studies were then assessed, extracted, and synthesized. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria: 12 quantitative and 3 qualitative. The physical activity interventions lasted between 3 and 20 weeks and included a wide range of physical activities. The instruments used to measure psychological well-being varied across all studies, this along with the variety of study designs made statistical analysis impossible. The findings of this systematic review however, suggest that physical activity has a beneficial effect on some attributes associated with psychological well-being in individuals with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between exercise and mental health is well documented and has led to the inclusion of exercise into the treatment of people with mental health problems. A qualitative (grounded theory) methodology, using focus groups, investigated the experiences of people with mental health problems, who had successfully participated in exercise as part of their treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of service users who had successfully participated in sports therapy as part of their treatment. One of the researchers is also a service user who has participated in sports therapy and these experiences provided an insight into the research, especially in the design of the interview schedule, data collection (empathy with participants), and in the interpretation of the data. The dual role of service user and researcher is commended in contemporary mental health research and as such makes this study unique. A conceptual model is presented that explains the participants' subjective experiences, opinions, and perceptions of the role exercise has in their treatment, and their perceived outcomes from participation. The findings support sports therapy as an acceptable and beneficial adjunct to usual treatment for some people with mental health problems within the community, but that problems exist regarding knowledge and understanding of the theory underpinning its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To review the existing evidence examining effectiveness of exercise as an adjunct therapy for psychosis. Method. A search of databases including Pub Med, Psych Info, Cochrane Library, Cinahl, Sports Discus and Web of Knowledge was conducted to identify studies investigating the psychological changes following exercise interventions in people with psychosis. Literature was subjected to a critical review to determine the effectiveness of exercise as a therapy for psychosis. Results. A total of ten studies met the inclusion criteria: four quantitative, two qualitative and four using a mixed method design. Exercise interventions were supervised and generally lasted between 10 and 12 weeks. Study samples were small, even in the quantitative studies, meaning that statistical analysis was not always possible. Study design and outcome measures varied across all studies. Generally the research findings demonstrated a positive trend towards improved mental health for those participants utilising exercise. Conclusion. The findings suggest the presence of a positive effect of exercise on mental health in people with psychosis, yet there is a need for greater consistency within the research to determine the size of effects and the most successful type of intervention. As exercise is increasingly used in the mental health service, more research is needed to provide a more comprehensive evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]