Learning from real-world conditions to advance green care for mental health equity in the Global North: protocol for a transdisciplinary multi-scalar project.
There is increasing evidence that green care (from nature-in-everyday life and nature-based health promotion to nature-based therapy) can promote mental health and well-being. However, there is contradictory evidence and few large-scale international studies focused on health inequities. The GreenME project aims to identify ways in which effective green care can be scaled-up to improve adult mental health and well-being equity while contributing to multiple socio-ecological co-benefits across the Global North.
GreenME's approach is threefold: (i) to diagnose the current status of green care in project consortium countries through a grey literature review and stakeholder interviews, (ii) to increase scientific evidence on the relationship between green care and mental health and well-being equity using modified randomised controlled trials and a population-level socioecological cross-sectional survey study and (iii) to empower green care actors by co-creating a set of tools with consortium countries' participating stakeholders. GreenME will: (a) produce a catalogue of identified successful green care models and best practices; (b) design a robust but adaptable protocol for testing the pathways, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of nature-based therapies; (c) identify the mental health equity impact of green care and (e) co-create solutions for national and EU-level policies and develop online resources for nature-based therapy providers. GreenME is conceptualised and designed to increase the use of green care and its integration within a multi-scalar green care framework which could ultimately promote just and sustainable healthy communities.
Ethical approval has been obtained individually from each partner/site (UAB CERec 6594, 6851, UAB-CERec180, UAB-CERec178 and CEEAH 7269; UOC CE23-PR29, CE240PR07, CE24-PR59, CE24-PR55; l'Hospital de Mataró CEIm 11/2; CEIm Fundació Sant Joan de Déu PIC-82-25; Alma Mater Stadiorum Universita di Bologna, Proj nos. 0157655, 0075975; ILS, no number 'Survey in Workpackage 2', no number 'Workshops in Workpackage 5'; Swedish Ethics Review Committee, 2024-2810-01, 2025-0195401; University of Kent, CREAG064-04-024; University of Salford Ethics Administration, Ref 0189, 4552; Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology Bioethics Committee, no number; Committees on Ethics and Scientific Research, Res no 32/RKF/2023U). All study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, scientific conferences and via reports and workshops for stakeholders at the regional (European Union), national and local levels.
ISRCTN13105773, ISRCTN71485431, ISRCTN11841855, ISRCTN14970007 and ISRCTN15381820.
GreenME's approach is threefold: (i) to diagnose the current status of green care in project consortium countries through a grey literature review and stakeholder interviews, (ii) to increase scientific evidence on the relationship between green care and mental health and well-being equity using modified randomised controlled trials and a population-level socioecological cross-sectional survey study and (iii) to empower green care actors by co-creating a set of tools with consortium countries' participating stakeholders. GreenME will: (a) produce a catalogue of identified successful green care models and best practices; (b) design a robust but adaptable protocol for testing the pathways, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of nature-based therapies; (c) identify the mental health equity impact of green care and (e) co-create solutions for national and EU-level policies and develop online resources for nature-based therapy providers. GreenME is conceptualised and designed to increase the use of green care and its integration within a multi-scalar green care framework which could ultimately promote just and sustainable healthy communities.
Ethical approval has been obtained individually from each partner/site (UAB CERec 6594, 6851, UAB-CERec180, UAB-CERec178 and CEEAH 7269; UOC CE23-PR29, CE240PR07, CE24-PR59, CE24-PR55; l'Hospital de Mataró CEIm 11/2; CEIm Fundació Sant Joan de Déu PIC-82-25; Alma Mater Stadiorum Universita di Bologna, Proj nos. 0157655, 0075975; ILS, no number 'Survey in Workpackage 2', no number 'Workshops in Workpackage 5'; Swedish Ethics Review Committee, 2024-2810-01, 2025-0195401; University of Kent, CREAG064-04-024; University of Salford Ethics Administration, Ref 0189, 4552; Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology Bioethics Committee, no number; Committees on Ethics and Scientific Research, Res no 32/RKF/2023U). All study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, scientific conferences and via reports and workshops for stakeholders at the regional (European Union), national and local levels.
ISRCTN13105773, ISRCTN71485431, ISRCTN11841855, ISRCTN14970007 and ISRCTN15381820.
Authors
Cole Cole, Caputo Caputo, Specht Specht, Giedych Giedych, Otsuka Otsuka, Cook Cook, Gawryszewska Gawryszewska, Luciano Luciano, Olszewska-Guizzo Olszewska-Guizzo, Hedblom Hedblom, Houston-Read Houston-Read, McVay McVay, Neuberger Neuberger, Sienkiewica-Jarosz Sienkiewica-Jarosz, Feliu-Soler Feliu-Soler, de Prado-Bert de Prado-Bert, Hardman Hardman, Howarth Howarth, Bragg Bragg, Crichigno Crichigno, Triguero-Mas Triguero-Mas
View on Pubmed