Nature Prescriptions Prove Cost-Effective for Youth Mental Health

Young Australians are facing significant mental health challenges, with almost three in ten reporting high psychological distress. A new study from Victoria suggests that structured time spent in nature can serve as an effective alternative or complement to traditional mental health treatments. This innovative approach, termed “nature prescriptions,” has been shown to deliver substantial mental health benefits that far exceed their costs.

Understanding Nature Scripts

The research, conducted in collaboration with the Victorian not-for-profit People and Parks Foundation and headspace Shepparton, evaluated a program called Nature Scripts. The trial involved young individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental illnesses, as defined by established psychological distress measures. Instead of conventional counseling, small groups of five to seven participants engaged in two hours of nature-based activities weekly over six weeks, guided by headspace staff.

Activities included nature journaling, yoga, tree planting, bushwalking with a Parks Victoria ranger, identifying macroinvertebrates with Landcare, and learning nature photography. The aim was to enhance participants’ awareness and connection to nature while fostering social bonds.

Measuring the Impact

The evaluation included 62 participants, with a control group to measure outcomes. Researchers utilized the Personal Well-being Index (PWI), assessing life satisfaction across seven dimensions: standard of living, health, life achievements, personal relationships, perceived safety, community connections, and future security. Initially, participants had an average well-being score of just 5.7 out of 10, significantly below typical Australian scores ranging from 6.3 to 7.5.

After six weeks, participants experienced an average improvement of approximately 0.7 points in their well-being scores. Those attending the program twice reported even greater and more sustainable enhancements. Beyond the numerical improvements, participants exhibited reduced psychological distress and notably less loneliness. While improvements in their sense of connection to nature were not statistically significant, participants reported feeling more integrated within their communities by approximately 10%.

Qualitative interviews with twelve participants underlined the importance of the social aspect of outdoor activities and the supportive role of headspace counselors.

Economic Value of Nature Engagement

The economic implications of the Nature Scripts program are particularly compelling. headspace estimates that running three Nature Scripts programs would cost around AU$50,000. Additional participant costs, such as travel, would increase overall expenses by AU$2,700 to AU$9,540. However, the research team quantified the well-being improvements, revealing that each participant’s enhancement in well-being could be valued at approximately AU$19,875 if sustained for six months. This translates to an estimated total benefit of about AU$240,000 for twelve participants across three programs, yielding a remarkable benefit-to-cost ratio of between 4.0 and 4.3 to 1.

While the economic argument is persuasive, the researchers did not attempt to assign a monetary value to all aspects of the program’s benefits. Reduced loneliness and psychological distress, as well as positive impacts on participants’ friends and family, contribute additional value to the initiative.

Australia, like many countries, is grappling with a mental health crisis, with one in five Australians affected by mental illness, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders. Traditional treatments often come with high costs and long waiting lists. Nature Scripts presents a viable alternative that is both cost-effective and widely accessible, leveraging the inherent human connection to nature.

The findings underscore that sustained, curated, group-based engagement with nature can yield significant long-term benefits for individuals with mild to moderate mental health issues. To maximize these benefits, either program repetition or encouragement of ongoing nature exposure as part of daily life is essential. As mental health challenges continue to escalate, exploring programs like Nature Scripts could play a crucial role in broader healthcare strategies.

The simplicity and effectiveness of spending time in nature to boost well-being may offer one of the most innovative yet straightforward solutions to improving mental health among young adults. The economic advantages serve as an encouraging bonus for policymakers and health practitioners alike.

For further details, refer to the study by John K. Stanley et al, titled “Nature Scripts to Promote Social Sustainability: Monetizing Wellbeing Benefits of Group-Based Nature Exposure for Young Adults with Mild to Moderate Mental Illness,” published in Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.3390/su17229988.