Is “nature” a policy solution to mental health in schools?

Conference item : Poster

The UK faces a growing youth mental health crisis (NHS, 2023; RCPsych 2025). Schools may play a key role in preventing these difficulties from worsening. ​

The integration of nature-based programs (NbPs) into school settings has been proposed as a policy solution to address such mental health challenges but robust evidence is lacking (Lomax et al., 2024), particularly at the secondary school level.​

This Sprint utilised an implementation science framework to co-produce evidence on NbPs in secondary schools with stakeholders including policymakers from the Government’s Department for Education (DfE), young people, and educators. ​

Using a range of methodologies we are evaluating effectiveness, amplifying stakeholder voices, and creating actionable, evidence-based education policy insights.

Authors: Lorimer, J; Menon, S; Wilhelm, K; Tsiachristas, A; Polgreen, K

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Not peer reviewed
• Publisher: Agile Initiative, Oxford Martin School
• Publication date: 2025-03-20
• Event title: Agile Martin School
• Event location: Oxford, UK
• Event website: https://www.agile-initiative.ox.ac.uk/sprints/is-nature-a-policy-solution-to-mental-health-in-schools/
• Event start date: 2025-03-20
• Event end date: 2025-03-20
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-gjvgkvbod
• Language: English
• Keywords: school-based programs; implementation science; nature-based programs; mental health
• Subtype: Poster