A NATURE-BASED INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A NATURE-BASED INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH: EFFICACY OF AN ANGLING INTERVENTION FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
IRAS ID
330850
Contact name
Nicholas R Cooper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13593648
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Aims:
The ultimate purpose of this research is to test whether angling in a natural, social setting will improve mental health of military veterans and other emergency service personnel (e.g. police, ambulance, fire service, coastguard) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We are evaluating a new, engaging way to help people with PTSD recover their wellbeing and build their resilience that involves learning to fish while socialising in small groups in a tranquil, rural setting.
Background:
Anyone who has experienced a traumatic episode might develop PTSD but it is particularly noted in military veterans who have seen combat and emergency service personnel, who experience trauma on a regular basis. PTSD is characterised by persistently feeling under threat and experiencing vivid memories, nightmares and ‘flashbacks’ of the trauma. We have worked with veterans who have lived with PTSD for many years and with veterans’ support charities to develop a new intervention that involves learning to fish whilst socialising in small groups in a tranquil, rural setting over 2 days. The idea behind this approach is threefold: First, being amongst people with similar experiences makes it easier to feel supported and understood and share concerns and memories. Second, natural environments are restorative and free from attention-grabbing triggers (such as unpredictable urban sounds that trigger flashbacks). Third, developing a skill encourages post-traumatic growth.
Design and methods:
We will invite sufficient numbers to successfully recruit 198 participants and randomly allocate them to experience our intervention right away, or to wait a while. Measures of their PTSD symptoms and other related mental health and wellbeing factors will be taken before and after the intervention for the active fishing group and at corresponding times for the waitlist group. Long-term follow-up measures will also be taken 6-months and 1-year after the intervention for the “fishing right away” group.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0028
Date of REC Opinion
11 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion