Tag Archives: Health
How can care home staff support people with dementia to be meaningfully occupied?
How somebody spends their time has a huge impact on how they feel. This includes how they see themselves and how satisfied they feel that they are living life in the way they want to. Feeling happy with life may not mean feeling occupied every moment, but that the things that people do have a […]
Associations between nature and sleep
Leanne, Mat, Lewis and James, working with collaborators from Europe, the US and Australia, have used survey data from 18 countries to explore the roles of specific types of nature exposure, and potential underlying mechanisms, on nature-sleep associations. The paper was published in Environmental Research. Insufficient sleep has been described as a significant public health […]
The contribution of blue space to well-being in the lives of people with severe mental illness
Sarah and Lewis have collaborated on new research which explored the ways in which people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar use bluespaces including coastals and inland waters, and how it affects their mental health. The paper was published in the journal People and Nature. Semi-structured online and telephone interviews were carried out […]
Nature-based physical activity prevents several diseases, including depression and type 2 diabetes
In a new study published this week, we found that physical activity in natural environments prevents almost 13,000 cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) a year in England and avoided healthcare and societal costs of more than £100m. The paper was led by Dr James Grellier, and is available open access, in the journal Environment International: […]
New paper: Using systems thinking when evaluating nature-based solutions
The major challenges that society faces, such as noncommunicable diseases and climate change, require large-scale interventions that work in complex systems. These interventions are often at regional or national level scales and can rarely be evaluated using experimental methods as researchers typically can’t control who receives the intervention. Nevertheless, evaluation of these types of interventions […]
Healing Power of Nature: Podcast from Alex Smalley
Alex has worked with BBC Studios Natural History Unit and Audible to create a new podcast focusing on the healing power of nature. You can read more about Alex’s work on his Virtual Nature project site. In today’s fast-paced world, most people are familiar with feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed. But a remarkable resource exists […]
New job: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Environment-Health Decision Making
We have a new job opportunity! The 0.6%FTE post will be based with us at ECEHH at our Truro Campus and is fixed term basis from 01/12/2022 until 30/09/2026. The Post You will play a key role within the University of Exeter research team investigating how Urban Green- and Blue-Space (UGBS) can deliver equitable health […]
Nature, Health & Wellbeing CPD Course
We at ECEHH run a Continuing Professional Development course, Nature, Health and Well-being. The next course dates have just been announced. It will run virtually on Zoom over four days on from 9:00 – 13:00 (UK time) on the 20th, 23rd, 27th, 30th March 2023 from the comfort of your home and/or office without the need […]
Nature on prescription for mental health trial: Feasibility stage
Ruth, Becca, Kerryn and a team from Exeter and Plymouth Universities have been awarded funds by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to conduct a feasibility study of nature based activities reached through social prescribing. The work will help prepare for a full Randomised Controlled Trial which will help clarify whether such activities are […]
Nature, biodiversity and health: an overview of interconnections. A report for the WHO
The multitude of ways in which the natural environment and human health are inextricably linked have been outlined in a report we have written for the WHO Europe region as part of our WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health. It is designed to help individuals and organisations across the 53 member states of […]
Beyond Greenspace 