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Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations

Maller, Cecily, Townsend, Mardie, Pryor, Anita, Brown, Peter and St Leger, Lawrence 2006, Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations, Health promotion international, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 45-54.

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Title Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations
Author(s) Maller, Cecily
Townsend, Mardie
Pryor, Anita
Brown, Peter
St Leger, Lawrence
Journal name Health promotion international
Volume number 21
Issue number 1
Start page 45
End page 54
Publisher Oxford Journals
Place of publication Oxford, England
Publication date 2006-03
ISSN 0957-4824
Keyword(s) nature
health promotion
mental health
ecological health
Summary Whilst urban-dwelling individuals who seek out parks and gardens appear to intuitively understand the personal health and well-being benefits arising from `contact with nature', public health strategies are yet to maximize the untapped resource nature provides, including the benefits of nature contact as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. This paper presents a summary of empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence drawn from a literature review of the human health benefits of contact with nature. Initial findings indicate that nature plays a vital role in human health and well-being, and that parks and nature reserves play a significant role by providing access to nature for individuals. Implications suggest contact with nature may provide an effective population-wide strategy in prevention of mental ill health, with potential application for sub-populations, communities and individuals at higher risk of ill health. Recommendations include further investigation of `contact with nature' in population health, and examination of the benefits of nature-based interventions. To maximize use of `contact with nature' in the health promotion of populations, collaborative strategies between researchers and primary health, social services, urban planning and environmental management sectors are required. This approach offers not only an augmentation of existing health promotion and prevention activities, but provides the basis for a socio-ecological approach to public health that incorporates environmental sustainability.

Notes Published online on December 22, 2005
Language eng
Field of Research 111712 Health Promotion
HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
Copyright notice ©2005 The Author
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30003036

Document type: Journal Article
Collection: School of Health and Social Development
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