Nature as medicine opportunities expand for the UC community
The Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC has received funding from a Universal Provider Grant at the University of Cincinnati. It's to promote campus health by engaging faculty from across the university in nature as medicine programming, while expanding the reach of the university’s existing Campus Nature Rx initiatives.
Thanks to past funding from a Universal Provider Grant, the Osher Center has provided mental wellness support and professional development to more than 1,000 faculty/staff with skills-based training. With this continued support, Osher aims to continue to foster lasting culture change across the university.
The science behind nature as medicine
A number of studies provide the evidence base for the health benefits of nature engagement including reductions in stress, anxiety and depression, as well as improved memory recall, concentration, sleep patterns and overall mood.
Research shows engaging in nature can provide health benefits including reductions in stress, anxiety and depression. Photo/provided.
Recent studies have found that people in the U.S. spend as much as 10 hours and 39 minutes a day indoors, consuming media, more time than the average person spends asleep. Reconnecting with the outdoors can serve as a natural mitigator to symptoms of burnout and tech-related unhealthy behaviors such as anxiety, headaches, depression, mental fatigue, eye and neck strain, insomnia and irritability.
According to a 2024 study, courses led by faculty who demonstrate and promote a sense of place and belonging at their institutions have shown an increase in college students valuing and using green spaces on and near their campuses.
Research has shown that one- and five-minute green microbreaks on campus greenspaces effectively support stress relief, and another study showed nature experiences of between 10 and 20 minutes have been shown to improve mood an average of 86% among participants.
Nature as medicine opportunities
The expanded Nature as Medicine program for UC faculty and staff will include evidence-based education and experiences to promote faculty wellness, enhance connection to the campus community and increase engagement in teaching and connecting with students.
Together, we aim to empower faculty to bring these valuable wellness strategies into the student experience, fostering a healthier campus community.
Barbara Walker, PhD Clinical director, Nature as Medicine programs
Virtual Nature as Medicine introductory sessions
Photo/provided
Two, 45-minute virtual courses led by Barbara Walker, PhD, via Zoom, open to all UC faculty/staff, will contain empirical evidence on the mental and physical benefits of being in nature and include information on utilizing available Campus Nature Rx resources. Participants can choose one of two dates to attend (Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. or March 7 at noon).
“We are thrilled to collaborate with faculty on the Campus Nature Rx project, offering an opportunity to explore the positive impact of nature on personal well-being,” said Walker, associate professor and clinical director of the Parks for Wellness program. “Together, we aim to empower faculty to bring these valuable wellness strategies into the student experience, fostering a healthier campus community.”
All faculty/staff who attend one of the virtual Nature as Medicine introduction sessions and are interested in furthering their training/knowledge will be eligible to register for one of the immersive Nature as Medicine retreats.
Nature as Medicine retreats
Photo/provided
Two half-day (four-hour) immersive retreat sessions will be held at the UC Field Center in Harrison and limited to 15 registrants. Registrants will choose one date to attend (Friday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Friday, April 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.).
Experiential immersive training is based on the established model created by the International and Nature Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA), and led by facilitators Walker and Kelly Lyle, who are certified by the INFTA.
As a group, participants will be guided through a defined sequence of invitations to slow down, allow the senses to open and experience the environment to deepen the reciprocal relationship between participants and nature. Participants will learn the science behind forest therapy and the benefits of spending time in nature and given the tools to incorporate nature as medicine concepts and experiences into their professional and personal lives. A nutritious meal will be served.
Benefits to faculty will hopefully ripple out to positively impact their students’ academic outcomes, improve social-emotional health and executive function skills, increase empathy and environmentally conscious behaviors, as well as enhance creativity, resilience and well-being.
Sian Cotton, PhD Director, Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC
Ultimately, the Osher Center’s goal is to expand the definition of "professional development" to include a "whole-person development" concept, in which faculty/staff can apply wellness learnings to both their professional and personal life.
"Benefits to faculty will hopefully ripple out to positively impact their students’ academic outcomes, improve social-emotional health and executive function skills, increase empathy and environmentally conscious behaviors, as well as enhance creativity, resilience and well-being," said Sian Cotton, PhD, Osher Center director.
The Osher Center is changing health outcomes in Cincinnati
Empowering patients to take control of their health through preventative, integrative therapies at UC Health, training students and health care professionals at the UC College of Medicine, and engaging the community through lifestyle medicine and integrative health programs and events. Learn more about the Osher Center for Integrative Health.
Featured image at top: Barbara Walker leading a group through forest therapy. Photo/provided.
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