Into the Wild – Restoring Young Minds in the Surrey Hills

Birgitta Gatersleben

Genevieve Lebus

Environmental Psychology Research Group

University of Surrey

• Type of contact• Accessibility: living near nature• Exposure: viewing• Engagement: walking, gardening, den building, …

• Type of benefits• Directly

• Emotional • Cognitive• Connectedness

• Indirectly • Social contact• Physical activity • Meaningful activities

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10

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30

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1995-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 2010-2015

Growing evidencePapers published in Env. Psy

restorative environment

attention restoration theory

green space & wellbeing

Nature is good for us

• Preventing mental health problems • Two-thirds of mental health problems start in adolescence• Linked to bullying, neglect, substance abuse, ….

• Helping young people to thrive• Maximise their potential• Build confidence, resilience and self-esteem• Support establishment of healthy habits

• Young people• Independent, finding place in the world

Beddington et al., 2008; Department of Health, 2011; MHF, 2017; MQ transforming mental health, 2016

Focus on young people (10 – 24)

• Around 200K young people in Surrey (10-24)

• Around 10K 5-15 year olds diagnosed mental health disorder

• Surrey affluent• 150 of 152 UK counties on Index of Multiple Deprivation

• But – pockets of deprivation• Wards with up to 40% children living in deprivation• Some are within 20% of the most deprived areas in the UK• In 2018 7,019 children classified “child in need” • Social inequality, linked to depression, anxiety and panic disorder

Young people in Surrey

Surrey County Council, 2018; Community Foundation for Surrey, 2013

The healing benefits of naturefor young people

• Lots of evidence• Review of 35 publications (0-18 year olds) by Tillman et al. (2018)

• Accessibility, exposure and engagement

• Benefits: emotional well-being, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity disorder, overall mental health, self-esteem, stress, resilience, depression and health-related quality of life

• For instance, • Li et al (2018) 155 adolescents 13-19 in the US

• GPS tracker for 4 days + activity and mood diary

• Higher exposure to green space linked to better mood

Nature and young people – some evidence

Roberts, et al. (2019). Nature activities and wellbeing in children and young people: a systematic literature review. J Adventure Educ. Outdoor Learning; Tillmann et al (2018). Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review. J Epidemiol Community Health.

• Greenwood & Gatersleben (2014)

• 120 teenagers completed stressor tasks and then spent 25 minutes in school room or garden alone, with a phone or with a friend

• Positive mood increased most outdoors with a friend

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time 1 time 2

Positive affect before and after rest period

inside alone inside with friend

inside with phone outside alone

outside with friend outside with phone

School courtyard

Greenwood, A., & Gatersleben, B. (2016). Let's go outside! Environmental restoration amongst adolescents and the impact of friends and phones. J Env. Psy, 48, 131-139.

The Surrey Hills

• Woodland covers 22% of the county

• Over 25% of the county Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

• A natural health resource for young people

Nature in Surrey

Taking young people into Nature in Surrey

Learn

Touch

Smell

Listen

• Search of organisations in Surrey

• Sixteen surveys and six interviews to assess perceived benefits, opportunities and challenges• Almost all believed nature-engagement is beneficial, rewarding and fun • Almost all would like to do it more

Opportunities and challenges in Surrey

Youth groups (nature engagement) 35

Youth groups (no nature) 102

Groups that take youth outside 81

Opportunities and challenges

0 50 100

Volunteers

Funding

Equipment

Awareness among young people

Awareness among parents

Suitable location

Support from an organisation

Time

Access for disabilities

Other (weather)

What would help you bring (more) young people into the natural environment (agree/disagree)?

Volunteers Volunteers to transport and help with small

groups once we get out into the country

Other

support

A partnership organisation - to work in

collaboration to share skills/ equipment/

staffing - not able to do it on my own!

Transport Transport is very important. As an organisation

we do not own a minibus so heavily rely on the

good will of schools to loan us their transport.

Funding Funding is also a huge factor. As we are a

charity we are constantly having to find funding

to run anything.

• Taking more young people into the wild

Extra staffing and training

guidance concerning safeguarding requirements

Safe, supervised locations with facilities

Equipment

A night under the stars

The young people - build up their confidence and overcome perceived barriers

Lots of volunteers who understand the children

• There are a lot of young people in need of support

• Surrey has a lot to offer in terms of natural health resources

• We should get together to close the gap between existing needs and opportunities

• Suitable environments, volunteers, transport opportunities, facilities, equipment, training, awareness

Conclusion

Thank you

Birgitta Gatersleben

Genevieve Lebus