Biodiverse nature prescriptions and mental health

Contact with nature (e.g. parks) improves mental health. But how and why biodiversity within nature (e.g. abundance of birdlife) may be a key factor is under-researched. With many countries investing in nature prescriptions for mental health and well-documented risk of worldwide biodiversity collapse, stronger evidence linking these critical issues could have local and global resonance.

The aim of this study is to understand the mental health benefits of contact with biodiversity in order to create a ‘biodiverse nature prescription’. This project has 3 objectives:

1. Identify the 'key ingredients’ of effective biodiverse nature prescriptions through a scoping review of previous research studies (study 1)
2. Test the relative importance of biodiversity in contrast with other green space qualities for supporting mental health (study 2)
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of a nature prescription intervention in a high-biodiverse environment, compared to a nature prescription in a low-biodiverse environment (study 3).

Applicants are expected to hold a minimum of an upper second-class honour’s degree (65 per cent or above) in psychology (or a related discipline) and a master’s degree in a relevant subject with a pass of 65 per cent or above.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic minimum of 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6 in each individual category.

Environmental Psychology Research Group, University of Surrey

Power Lab