The Need

Many young people experience poor mental wellbeing. In western societies there are many reasons for this, such as examinations, bullying, body image and concerns about climate change. These concerns may have also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Access to mental health services is increasingly difficult and this is especially so for people living in remote and rural areas such as the Highlands, where this programme is taking place. Distances from services combined with growing numbers of referrals means many young people find it more difficult to access professional support.

Young people living in rural and remote areas also experience disadvantages due to geographical isolation, poor public transport provision, lack of local services and fewer opportunities when it comes to social and sports activities. In addition to these structural barriers to accessing mental health services, there are also social barriers to access, such as stigma around mental health, concerns about confidentiality in small communities, being part of marginalised or hidden communities such as LGBTQ or refugee groups, or concerns about being taken seriously.

We know that engagement with nature can improve the mental wellbeing of adults, but less is known about the impact of nature on young people’s wellbeing. We think that early interventions that work to reduce anxiety by supporting mental wellbeing and increasing resilience, before it becomes a problem, are a potential solution. As the mental wellbeing of adults has been shown to improve by accessing natural spaces, we think it can do the same for young people.