RESEARCH

Course: SOWK551/2021/ Use of Horticultural Therapy on Mental Health in Healthcare

Horticultural therapy can be an effective intervention for improving mental health by restoring attention, reducing depression and anxiety, promoting social cohesion, and fostering productivity, with recommendations for its integration into social work practice.
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Summary

This website reviews the application of horticultural therapy (HT) as an alternative treatment for mental health patients in healthcare settings. It highlights HT’s ability to restore attention, promote social cohesion, and reduce depression and anxiety through purposeful engagement with plants and nature. Drawing on the Attention Restoration Theory, HT activities help participants focus on the present moment and distance themselves from urban stressors, fostering mental health improvements. Patients also gain a sense of accomplishment and productivity, along with vocational skills in horticulture. Evidence from studies shows HT benefits diverse populations, including pediatric, geriatric, and psychiatric patients, by improving mental well-being, self-esteem, cognitive function, and interpersonal relationships. The review concludes that HT offers significant therapeutic benefits for mental health patients and recommends its adoption by social workers in clinical practice to enhance holistic care.

Link

Wikipedia Contributors. (2023, January 12). Course:SOWK551/2021/Use of horticultural therapy on mental health in healthcare – UBC wiki. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

 

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