Social Return on Investment of Nature-Based Activities for Adults with Mental Wellbeing Challenges

Ned Hartfiel (), Heli Gittins, Val Morrison, Sophie Wynne-Jones, Norman Dandy and Rhiannon Tudor Edwards
Additional contact information
Ned Hartfiel: Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2PZ, UK
Heli Gittins: School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
Val Morrison: School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2AS, UK
Sophie Wynne-Jones: School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
Norman Dandy: School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
Rhiannon Tudor Edwards: Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2PZ, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Increased time spent in nature can enhance physical health and mental wellbeing. The UK Government’s ‘25 Year Environment Plan’ recommends extending the health benefits of contact with nature to a wider group of people, including those with mental health challenges. This study investigated whether nature-based interventions (NBIs) for people with mild mental health challenges could generate a positive social return on investment (SROI). Between May 2017 and January 2019, 120 participants at six outdoor sites in Wales participated in a 6 to 12-week NBI, which consisted of a weekly 2- to 4-h session. Quantitative data were collected from baseline and follow-up questionnaires identifying participant demographics and measuring mental wellbeing, physical activity, self-efficacy, and social trust. Wellbeing valuation generated a range of social value ratios by applying the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) Social Value Calculator (SVC 4.0) and HACT Mental Health Social Value Calculator (MHSVC 1.0). Seventy-four participants (62%) completed follow-up questionnaires at 6 months. SROI ratios were calculated using the SVC for physical activity, self-efficacy, and social trust. The MHSVC generated social value ratios for mental wellbeing. The base case results revealed a positive social value ratio for participants, ranging from British Pound Sterling (GBP) 2.57 to GBP 4.67 for every GBP 1 invested, indicating favourable outcomes in terms of value generated.

Keywords: social return on investment; nature-based activities; mental wellbeing; social prescribing; wellbeing valuation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/15/6500/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/15/6500/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:15:p:6500-:d:1208720

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().