Nature Heals: A Scoping Review of Nature-Based Interventions for Climate-Related Emotional Distress

At the Conference for Undergraduate Health Research (CUHR) 2026, held on May 8, 2026, under the theme "From Concept to Care: Driving Progress in Health Research," Mahnoosh Jalilzadeh presented her research poster, Nature Heals: A Scoping Review of Nature-Based Interventions for Climate-Related Emotional Distress, alongside Sophia Bryan-Carbonell.

The poster explored the growing body of evidence supporting nature-based interventions (NBIs) as promising approaches for addressing climate-related emotional distress, including eco-anxiety, ecological grief, and solastalgia. Drawing on a scoping review of the literature, the research identified common intervention types, examined their psychological outcomes, and proposed key therapeutic mechanisms including emotional regulation, meaning-making, ecological identity, and nature connectedness that may help transform distress into resilience and meaningful climate action.

Throughout the conference, the presentation attracted considerable interest from students, faculty members, and health researchers. Many attendees stopped to discuss the findings, ask thoughtful questions about the review methodology and emerging evidence, and engage in conversations about the growing importance of ecopsychology and climate mental health. These discussions reinforced the increasing recognition of nature as an important component of psychological well-being and climate resilience.

This work was completed through the Wellness Impact Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, under the supervision of Susan Harris and Dr. Harvey A. Skinner, with collaborators Christy Costanian and Sophia Bryan-Carbonell. The project represents one of Mahnoosh's ongoing research interests at the intersection of ecopsychology, climate change, mental health, and nature-based interventions, contributing to a growing field focused on promoting both human and planetary well-being.