The Therapeutic Benefits of Nature Education for Youth Mental Health
- Bec Giddins
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 26
By Bec Giddins
With mental health challenges soaring among young Australians—almost 40 % of 16–24‑year‑olds report a mental health condition annually —it’s critical we turn to effective, scalable interventions. Nature and biodiversity education isn’t just feel‑good—it’s evidence-based, and recent Australian and international research highlights why it should be central to youth mental health strategies.
🌿 1. Mood Improvement, Stress Reduction & Cognitive Gain
Attention Restoration Theory (ART) explains that natural environments restore depleted cognitive resources by engaging effortless “soft fascination” (e.g. watching leaves rustle or water flow), which helps replenish directed attention . Extended exposure to actual nature has been shown to improve working memory, attentional control, and cognitive flexibility in children and adolescents, often outperforming virtual nature experiences.
Meta-analyses further reveal that 2+ hours per week in natural settings can significantly boost mood, reduce stress, and enhance cognitive functions, especially when maintained over several weeks.
🌱 2. Australian Clinician Support & Community Programs
Australian clinicians—particularly in the Illawarra region—express strong support for nature-based interventions (NBIs). They consistently report improved mood, relaxation, social connection, and overall wellbeing among youth participants.
Landcare ACT’s Wellbeing through Nature pilot (2021–22) demonstrated measurable increases in life satisfaction, mental resilience, and peer bonding, highlighting the value of structured biodiversity and habitat education.
🌀 3. Trauma Recovery & Wilderness Therapy
Outdoor-based therapeutic approaches—including wilderness therapy and surf therapy—have shown compelling outcomes for youth experiencing trauma or behavioral challenges.
Wilderness therapy meta-analyses report meaningful improvements in self-esteem, resilience, and emotional regulation with moderate-to-large effect sizes .
Similarly, surf therapy programs in Australia have been effective in enhancing psychological wellbeing and social connectedness for at-risk teenagers.
🌏 4. Nature Play & Garden-Based Learning
Early childhood research underscores benefits of nature play (ages 0–5), including stronger emotional confidence, social skills, and curiosity about the natural world . School-based garden programs also show gains in environmental awareness and academic performance, alongside emotional and social development.
💧 5. Blue Space & Nature-Prescribed Community Programs
Coastal programs like surf therapy consistently report positive youth mental health outcomes, while nature prescriptions—like NSW Health-backed initiatives in bushfire recovery—illustrate how guided connection with landscapes promotes trauma healing.
Programs like Nature Fix offer structured nature-based interventions with support from Indigenous and mental health experts.
✅ Implications for Youth Wellbeing
Nature education acts as both learning and therapeutic intervention. For youth struggling with anxiety, attention deficits, or trauma, structured exposure to natural and coastal environments can:
Lower stress indicators and cortisol levels
Enhance focus, mood, and self-esteem
Build resilience, empowerment, and social bonds
Complement traditional therapies with engaging, evidence-based methods
Integrating habitat restoration days, planting sessions, surf therapy, or wilderness immersion into youth programs—as ReGen Alliance does—aligns with best-practice, evidence-backed mental health approaches.
Recommendations
1. Regular exposure: aim for 2+ hours/week in natural environments
2. Structured programs: include guided plantings, species monitoring, or therapeutic activities
3. Social & emotional focus: foster peer connection and sense of collective purpose
4. Trauma-informed facilitation: ensure trained staff deliver wilderness or surf programs safely
5. Track outcomes: use simple pre/post surveys or partner with researchers to evaluate mental health impact
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References
1. Stevenson, M., Schilhab, T. & Bentsen, P. (2018). *Attention Restoration Theory II: A systematic review...*
2. Griffith University, Benefits of Nature Exposure on Cognitive Functioning in Children & Adolescents (2024)
3. Sciencedirect (2024): “Benefits of nature exposure on cognitive functioning in children and adolescents”
4. Springer (2023): Outdoor talking therapies and mental health interventions among youth
5. Children & Nature Network: Scoping review on vulnerable youth NBIs
6. Wikipedia: Surf therapy & wilderness therapy summaries (2025)
7. American and Australian meta-analyses: residential greenspace & mental health
8. The Guardian (2023): Nature prescriptions post-bushfire in NSW