NatureMind Summit
Green Social Prescribing

This evidence base review - featured at NatureMind 2025 - summarises the academic evidence that underpins the Mind Over Mountains approach, and in particular the associations between the elements of that model (nature, physical activity, human connection, mindfulness, and professional coaching and counselling) and mental health recovery. It also briefly explores the potential implications of the charity’s approach in tackling health inequalities. Where appropriate, this review also seeks to highlight gaps in current literature and evidence. View report online here.

From the authors - Dr Trisha Chauhan, Amy Edwards-Smith, Isabel Goodall, Dr Anna Kenyon, Dr Robynne Wadsworth & Richard Whall; “The integrated model delivered by Mind Over Mountains is supported well by the available, and growing, body of academic evidence. Each of the components of that model (nature, physical activity, human connection, mindfulness and coaching and counselling) can be seen, through the literature, to promote mental health and wellbeing in a variety of powerful ways. We look forward to continuing to work with the charity, and with other nature-based providers and practitioners, to demonstrate the effectiveness of these innovative approaches to mental health and wellbeing”.

CEO of the charity, Ian Boyd, states: "We are proud to be an evidence and research-backed mental health charity, and this review is an important step in continuing to demonstrate that our approach is both credible and effective. The combination of nature, movement, human connection and professional support sits on a strong and growing body of academic evidence, and we see it reflected consistently in the outcomes experienced by the people we support.

Alongside this, we are increasingly able to demonstrate our social return on investment, showing not just that our work improves wellbeing, but that it delivers significant value back into society. That matters, because if we are serious about prevention and long term mental health, we need approaches that are not only impactful, but sustainable and scalable.

NatureMind creates the space to bring all of this together. It allows us to connect research, lived experience and frontline delivery, to share what we are learning, and to be open about where the gaps still are. Our role is to help align that insight with partners across health, policy and the voluntary sector, so that nature based approaches can become a more recognised and embedded part of the wider system.

We are hugely grateful to the University of Lancashire and all of the contributors to this review. Their work strengthens the evidence base for the whole sector and helps move us closer to a future where this kind of support is available to everyone who needs it."