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Heat dome made British Columbians more anxious. Could prescribing nature help?

Stefan Labbé

January 26, 2022 |

Times Colonist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, British Columbia

A Canadian doctor partnered with the British Columbia Parks Foundation to launch PaRx, A Prescription for Nature. The program helps health care providers prescribe time in nature for patients experiencing depression and anxiety related to climate change.

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How cuddle therapy aims to combat loneliness

Anne-Sophie Brandlin

November 16, 2021 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Germany, Leipzig

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of loneliness, leading many to turn to professional cuddling therapists for human touch. Physical touch can help alleviate feelings of social isolation and has benefits for both physical and mental health.

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More Mini-Parks Mean Better Mental Health

Nora Macaluso

July 29, 2021 |

Next Avenue |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PHS LandCare, with support from the city, develops small vacant lots into mini-parks that bring people out of their homes and engage with their community. A 2018 study found that people living near LandCare lots reported a decrease in feelings of depression and a reduction in feelings of poor mental health. The city's role is important to the program’s success, especially in providing money to hire contractors to maintain the green spaces, especially local residents and formerly incarcerated people. Sites must be in low-income neighborhoods and near business areas, schools, and recreation centers.

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Push on to boost mental health support for first responders

Elvia Verdugo

July 09, 2021 |

Arizona Daily Star |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

The Peer Support Team at Northwest Fire District connects firefighters with a trained peer support specialist to talk confidentially about mental health. The program also connects firefighters in need with additional resources like therapy and counseling. In an effort to change the mindset most first responders have toward mental health, there are currently 50 trained peer support specialists throughout the state and more than 1,000 across the country.

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For Migrants, A Hopeful Journey Out of Darkness

Anna-Catherine Brigida

June 02, 2021 |

U.S. News & World Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Matamoros, Tamaulipas

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) works with asylum seekers in Matamoros to address mental health issues while they wait for decisions in their U.S. immigration cases. MSF provides one-on-one and group counseling with a therapist trained to address the issues asylum seekers face. To build trust and decrease the stigma surrounding mental health and seeking treatment, MSF holds daily talks in the camp. Since kids show symptoms of trauma differently, MSF created mental health treatment in the form of interactive games and activities. MSF reports positive outcomes for the 3,100 mental health sessions held in 2020.

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How Project Dastaan is helping survivors of the 1947 India-Pakistan partition reconnect to their ancestral homes

Kalpana Sunder

April 25, 2021 |

The National |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: India

Refugees and survivors of the 1947 India-Pakistan partition reconnect to their homes through virtual reality footage of their homes and villages. The initiative, Project Dastaan, seeks to provide emotional closure to people who had to flee their homes in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It also allows the children and grandchildren of survivors to gain a better understanding of their own histories and the trauma experienced by their loved ones. The digital experiences aim to raise awareness of the impact of the conflict and promote peace between the countries.

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When ‘om' can help you take care of Mom: Meditation, mindfulness useful tools for many caregivers

Beth Adams

March 29, 2021 |

WXXI |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Mindfulness and meditation practices have been shown to reduce stress and neurological biomarkers of aging while also improving an individual's mood, resilience, and cognitive performance. To help connect caregivers to these practices, some programs are now offering classes at community centers.

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‘Somebody cares': How schools are helping with student well-being

Chelsea Sheasley

March 24, 2021 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kennesaw, Georgia

To combat the mental health impacts of pandemic-era remote and hybrid learning, Palmer Middle School in Georgia established a grief-support group, a "stress busters" group, a book club, and a series of virtual lunch sessions with games and music to help students make connections and learn coping skills. More than 90% of students reported decreased stress levels after participating in the stress busters program, and their school attendance records also improved.

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Removing Obstacles to Mental Health Care — Over the Phone

Prudence Phiri

February 25, 2021 |

Global Press Journal |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Zambia

StrongMinds Zambia began offering teletherapy, in part due to COVID-19 related restrictions, but also to address the many new stressors that came with the pandemic. Counselors hold group calls with five people twice a week for five weeks. Clients are not charged for treatment or the calling costs. Some of the 1,500 women and about 100 men treated via teletherapy express the benefit of anonymity that speaking over the phone brings in a therapy setting. Without fear of being identified, clients feel more comfortable talking freely, especially given existing stigmas surrounding mental health issues.

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Medical Providers Are Taking Nature Therapy Seriously

Jenifer Frank

February 22, 2021 |

Connecticut Health Investigative Team |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

Medical providers are increasingly prescribing nature therapy – like walks, hikes, or recreational activities – as a way to help children and adults cope with life stressors. First popularized in Japan as "forest bathing," this practice has been shown to decrease a patient's anxiety and depression and increase their ability to concentrate.

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