A nature-based intervention to improve mental health

Angling for good

Previous research has shown that angling can help reduce the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This project will build on this earlier research to gather more evidence that will inform NHS policy around prescribing outdoor activities to support mental health.

We have recruited a group of veterans who have been randomly split into two groups. This will allow us to compare and contrast the group members, and gain a better understanding of the impact of the angling trips.

The trips will involve a weekend angling event during late summer and autumn 2022. Participants are provided with meals and overnight accommodation as well as angling equipment.

In the following weeks after their event we will keep in contact with participants and utilise questionnaires to find out more about the impact the trips have had.

We have already recruited the participants for this project and are not looking for more people to take part. Please check back to find out more about the progress of this research.

Funding

This project has been funded by the NHS through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Related papers

• Wicks, C., Barton, J., Orbell, S., Andrews, L. (2022). Psychological benefits of outdoor physical activity in natural versus urban environments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. Applied Psychology: Health and Wellbeing, 14, 1037-1061.
• Wheeler, Mark and Cooper, Nicholas R and Andrews, Leanne and Hacker Hughes, Jamie and Juanchich, Marie and Rakow, Tim and Orbell, Sheina (2020) 'Outdoor recreational activity experiences improve psychological wellbeing of military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: Positive findings from a pilot study and a randomised controlled trial.' PLoS One, 15 (11). e0241763-e0241763. ISSN 1932-6203

Blogs

• Benefits of physical activities for mental health: a review