easkey britton epa_hse_conference_2017
TRANSCRIPT
Barriers to Bridges:Engaging communities in Health and
WellbeingDr. Easkey Britton,
Dr. Caitriona Carlin, Dr. Gesche KindermannNEAR Health, NUIG
@easkeysurf / @NEARHealth_NUIG
@NEARHealth_NUIG
@NEARHealth_NUIG
Adapted from: Otto Scharrmer, 2015, U.Lab
NEAR-Health project
Engage communities with natural environment to benefit their health and wellbeing
oAppraise values, motivations, barriers and bridges
oDevelop a framework to integrate health promotion and environmental awareness.
@NEARhealth_NUIG
The NEAR Health project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Executive under Grant Award No. 2015-HW-MS-2, supports the implementation of the EPA Strategic Plan 2016-2020 – ‘Our Environment, Our wellbeing’ and Healthy Ireland, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland.
@NEARHealth_NUIG
Health and Wellbeing Drivers and Research
@NEARHealth_NUIG
@NEARHealth_NUIG
o Very few large scale longitudinal studies
o Mechanisms unclear - mixed and conflicting results from some studies
o Many studies restricted to very specific age, socio-economic groups
o Programmes or interventions or practices are rarely piloted or designed in conjunction with researchers
Why are we still seeking evidence that nature is good for us?
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Photo credit: Swilly@NEARHealth_NUIG
“Instilling a healthy respect for our aquatic environments at a young
age and giving children the skills they need to stay safe in water is
key to preventing drownings in the long term,”
Minister Simon Coveney, 2016
BRIDGES…
@NEARHealth_NUIG
@NEARHealth_NUIG
@NEARhealth_NUIG
How do you think the barriers can be overcome?
Where do you picture yourself, when you think about ‘being in
nature’?
Do you think there is a relationship between nature
and health?
How does being in nature make you feel?What does being healthy
mean to you?
What influences your health and wellbeing?
What does nature mean
to you?
For you, are health and wellbeing the same?
How do you define health and wellbeing?
What are the main barriers to engaging with nature?
What motivates you to get outdoors?
What did we ask?
@NEARHealth_NUIG
Nature is all around us, it includes us, but a lot of the time people don’t even see it.
Lack of time is always a big barrier.
Fear of water.
People don't know what to do or how to engage with the natural environment.
Access is one of the biggest and most basic barriers.
Support and a sense of community is important as an entry point for engaging with nature.
Peer support and social events are key to engaging people in nature.
Specialised wheelchairs for surf/sea/beaches, disability training and access. If I am stressed I need to go outside and that makes
me feel better.
Good for getting out of our heads and reconnecting with our body.
Barriers to Bridges…
Source: Irish Times Courtesy: Clean Coasts
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601
CLEAN COASTS
GROUPS
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Beach Cleans:
Doing good, feeling goodWHAT?
• Pilot study to evaluate health and wellbeing impact of
beach cleans.
• Before / After surveys with community groups, Big Beach
Clean, September 2017
• Total number of surveys: N = 30
WHERE?
• Location: 15 west cost participants // 15 east coast
WHO?
• Male, N = 12 // Female, N = 18
Average age: 34 years
Youngest: 9years // Oldest: 61 years
First beach clean - 59% @NEARHealth_NUIG
What motivated you to join the beach clean?
@NEARHealth_NUIG
0
1
2
3
4
BEFORE AFTER
Anxiety Disconnect
Can beach cleans do more than clean-up litter?
@NEARHealth_NUIG
Beach cleans - a natural mood enhancer?
0
1.75
3.5
5.25
7
Happy Relaxed & calm Refreshed & revitalised
BEFORE AFTER
@NEARHealth_NUIG
0
1.5
3
4.5
6
Nature Seaside Woods Friends Family Work community
BEFORE AFTER
Connectedness
@NEARHealth_NUIG
0.0
1.1
2.2
3.3
4.4
5.5
BEFORE AFTER
Community (east coast)
Community (west coast)
Context matters: Geographical differences?
@NEARHealth_NUIG
How do you feel now?
Why surfing?
Impact of
surfing, being in
the sea and by
the sea…
@NEARHealth_NUIG
What are the
biggest changes
you’ve
noticed…?
How does being
in the sea make
you feel?
@NEARHealth_NUIG
New Irish Network linking nature, health and wellbeing
@NEARHealth_NUIG
Thank youFollow: @NEARHealth_NUIG
The NEAR Health project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Executive under Grant Award No. 2015-HW-MS-2, supports the implementation of the EPA Strategic Plan 2016-2020 – ‘Our Environment, Our wellbeing’ and Healthy Ireland, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland.