Developing and testing a nature-based intervention for mothers with postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It affects 10-20 per cent of women and birthing people, and can have a detrimental effect on them, their children, families, and society.

Treatments for postnatal depression, such as medication or talking therapies, are not always acceptable or accessible to those needing help. This means that few women and birthing people receive treatment, especially amongst underserved groups. We need new solutions which help to reduce inequalities in maternal mental health.

Research has found that spending time in, and connecting with, nature can positively affect a person’s physical and mental health. Alongside people with lived experience, the research team has co-designed a group nature-based intervention tailored for postnatal women and birthing people, and their babies. This study will build and expand on that work.

Project aims

The team will:

• Address areas of uncertainty in delivering the intervention, and produce training materials and a manual for facilitators
• Explore whether it is feasible to conduct a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the intervention
• Understand what participants and facilitators think of the intervention, materials, and trial methods

What we hope to achieve

This research offers the possibility of developing an inclusive intervention option for postnatal depression. It will potentially pave the way for a full-scale trial in the future.

If this trial finds evidence of the intervention’s effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, nature-based interventions for this group could be adopted into routine NHS practices and integrated into services aimed at treating postnatal depression.

This project is funded through a NIHR Doctoral Fellowship awarded to Dr Katie Hall. Supervision will be provided by Professor Paul Moran, Professor Katrina Turner, Dr Jonathan Evans and Dr Chris Barnes .

Project partners include: the Nature Connectedness Research Group (University of Derby), the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (University of Exeter), third sector organisations supporting mothers from under-served communities, and nature-based training providers.