The Mother Nature Programme

The Mother Nature Programme

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that can occur after having a baby. It affects around 10-20 per cent of mothers, and can have a detrimental effect on them, their children, families, and wider society.

Treatments for postnatal depression, such as medication or talking therapies, are not always acceptable or accessible to those needing help. Many mothers do not receive treatment, especially those from under-served 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. The research team, led by Dr Katie Hall, has worked with people with lived experience to co-design a nature-based intervention tailored for groups of postnatal mothers and their babies. This research 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 randomised trial of the intervention, in preparation for a future trial of its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
• 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 understanding whether and how the Mother Nature Programme should progress to a full-scale trial in the future.

If such a future trial finds evidence that the intervention is effective and cost-effective, nature-based support of this kind could ultimately be integrated into NHS and other services aimed at supporting people with 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 .

The Mother Nature Project Patient and Public Involvement Group is co-chaired by Lucinda Stanton, formerly from Bluebell Care Trust, and Sherien Elsheikh, from Refugee Women of Bristol.

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.