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 Sansbury, states: “We consider Mind Over Mountains to be a research- and evidence-backed mental health charity. It is really important for us to demonstrate that our programmes are supported by the very latest clinical and academic evidence and that they deliver the best possible outcomes for our participants.

But it is also a key part of our strategy to share what we know and what we learn in a way that can support the wider development of nature-based approaches and green social prescribing. We are massively indebted to the University of Central Lancashire and to all the individual contributors to this evidence base review for their huge contribution to this critically important sector”.