RECETAS responds to the current global context, where cities are at the forefront of the environmental and social transformations needed to address challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, aging populations and mental health. The RECETAS studies will make important contributions to the growing body of evidence around the potential for nature-based social interventions to promote health and well-being in cities. At the same time, these solutions aim to reduce pressure on already stressed medical systems by using non-medical nature-based community referral strategies that address loneliness, an important precursor to chronic diseases and mental health disorders. Other project outputs will link research with practice and policy, enabling citizens, providers and decision-makers to optimally implement and scale-up NBPS interventions.
Our consortium, composed of 12 institutions from 8 different countries, is using multidisciplinary approaches to implement nature based social prescribing (NBSP). We are carrying out three observational studies and three randomised controlled trials in six cities worldwide: Barcelona, Marseille, Prague, Helsinki, Cuenca (Ecuador) and Melbourne.
The project includes:
- Social network analysis to understand relationships and pathways for intervention among stakeholders working at the intersection of nature-based solutions and mental health
- Inventory of existing nature-based interventions and the creation of new ones using participatory methods and literature reviews of current practices
- Design and evaluation of NBSP to understand the optimal conditions and impacts across diverse populations and different geographic, social, and cultural contexts
- Digital platform connecting users in the delivery and uptake of NBSP and further extending the reach of NBSP globally
The project includes a population who identifies as LGBTQIA+ refugees and people seeking asylum. The RMIT-based team works with ‘Many Coloured Sky’, which provides support to LGBTIQA+ refugee and people seeking asylum communities with capacity building, planning and project development. Specifically, the team works with a peer social support group that meets for activities, excursions, education, referrals, connections, networking, and emotional and practical support. This is a non-controlled exploratory complex intervention studies with a pre–post design, with one-year follow-up, that will be undertaken. Also, quantitative and qualitative methodologies will be applied, with an expected sample size of 50- 75 participants. Some of the project stakeholders are the City of Melbourne, Parks Victoria, Department of Health Victoria, Switchboard Victoria, ADMA - Australian Disease Management Association and many more.
