Forest|Psyche
Forest. Change. Impact. – Research for a healthy future.
In the Forest|Psyche project, we are developing a therapeutic forest course lasting several weeks with different focal points for the Vorpommern region. The aim is to create offerings that promote well-being, health, and a connection to nature, reduce stress, and alleviate psychological symptoms.
We are investigating how such stays in the forest and guided nature-based exercises affect the physical and mental health of various target groups, including people with depression, older people, and people with high blood pressure. Based on this research, we want to provide specific answers in the future as to which nature-based offerings are particularly helpful for whom—and how they can meaningfully complement existing health care.
The focus is on the health-promoting potential of the forest for us humans—and vice versa: What role do we play in keeping the forest healthy? This reciprocal view is based on the holistic One Health approach, which understands the health of humans, animals, and the environment (including ecosystems such as forests) as inextricably linked.
Forest|Health
Forest|Psyche is part of the “Forest|Health” research project of the T!Raum initiative “One-Health Region Vorpommern” (https://onehealth-region.de/), which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). The overall project is being carried out jointly by the University of Greifswald (Forest|Psyche) and Greifswald University Hospital (Forest|Medicine). The project is led by Prof. Dr. Eva-Lotta Brakemeier, Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Director of the Center for Psychological Psychotherapy at the University of Greifswald, and Prof. Dr. Susanne Wurm from the University Medical Center, Head of the Department of Prevention Research and Social Medicine. The project team also includes M.Sc. Psych. Sophie Hauck, M.Sc. Ann-Kristin Reinhard, Dr. Kristin Lehnert, and other staff and students.
Contact
Email: waldpsyche@uni-greifswald.de
Study director: Prof. Dr. Eva-Lotta Brakemeier
Coordination: Sophie Hauck
Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Franz-Mehring-Str. 47
17489 Greifswald
