Natural prescription takes momentum from primary and community care in La Garrotxa
IDIAPJGol has supervised a research project, developed by professionals from the Garrotxa Primary Care teams, based on a program of guided immersions in nature to evaluate the effect on the mental health of adults with states of depression, anxiety and stress.
Numerous studies link the fact of living close to natural spaces with a lower prevalence of mental disorders, especially those linked to anxiety, depression and stress. Under this premise, from the Olot Primary Care Team of the Catalan Health Institute (ICS), together with the basic areas of Sant Joan les Fonts and Vall d'en Bas, a project is being developed based on guided immersions in nature which aims to evaluate the effect that guided contact with nature has on people over 30 years of age who live in La Garrotxa and who suffer from these emotional states. The study, which has the supervision of the University Institute of Research in Primary Care (IDIAPJGol), started in January and will last until the end of 2024. 45 patients are already participating — the final study is expected to include 'n 166—, part of which form the so-called intervention group. After this group has completed the first 7 weeks of the program, preliminary results are already being collected.
"The tests seem to indicate that the people who do the guided dives in nature go from moderate-severe to mild", explains Quionia Villar, a doctor at the local practice of Les Preses and principal researcher of the project. The study arises from the need to address the increase in the incidence of people living in a state of depression, anxiety or stress in recent years and especially in the post-pandemic context. Using the natural resources in the territory and the social prescription, the study is designed to assess how the local population that suffers emotionally can benefit from the nearest natural resources. The degree of effectiveness of the project is assessed using tests that measure the state of mind of people who suffer from one of these pathologies.
A professional guide trained in therapeutic forests accompanies the intervention group and facilitates the experience through the itineraries designed in natural spaces in the municipalities of Les Preses and Vall d'en Bas, which follow old paths and forests. There are also guided trips through the two forests of the Sèlvans network in La Garrotxa: Salvador Grau and Les Olletes. Along the itinerary, a series of sensory and expressive proposals are developed in continuous contact with nature with the aim of acquiring new emotional management capacities that help improve health and personal well-being. The fact that it is a group activity also encourages the development of social interaction and companionship skills.
Precisely, the recognized diversity of natural spaces that the region has has led to the implementation of other initiatives that link medicine and the environment, such as the Garrotxa Pediatric Environmental Health Unit, established in 2017 in the Olot Hospital with the aim of addressing the detection, evaluation and management of diseases and environmental risks related to children's health, as well as providing education, training and research in this area.
Study extrapolable to other environments
The approach of this study is that it can be extrapolated to other population environments that have the opportunity to get closer to nature. For this to be the case, the project's work methodology is rigorously documented, both in terms of the techniques and the tools used in each of the sessions. The document produced will be useful for transferring this knowledge to other teams of guiding professionals. In addition, graphic material has been prepared in the form of cards that can be used independently once the patients have completed the guided program.
