The impact of gardening on the wellbeing of people with mental health condition: a systematic review

Abstract Background Mental health is a global problem. Conventional treatments focus on pharmacological approaches. Green prescribing, such as gardening interventions, could offer an alternative to pharmacological treatments by targeting non-clinical dimensions of wellbeing. Methods This systematic review focused on gardening interventions for people with mental health diagnosis. A search for eligible qualitative studies was conducted in November 2024 across CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. The search strategy focused on gardening and mental health. Data analysis used narrative synthesis approach. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO. Results Of the screened 6207 studies seven were included involving 87 participants. All interventions were in a group setting weekly or bi-weekly mostly facilitated by gardeners or occupational therapists and included conventional gardening activities of planting, sowing, and harvesting. Aspects that positively influenced wellbeing were destigmatising social connections, creating a sense of belonging, connecting with nature, and personal change through meaningful engagement. Participants reported reduced isolation and improved mood as the main benefits. Longevity of the benefits was not clear. Non-hierarchical interactions with facilitators were important as this fostered a sense of equality and mutual respect, facilitating the destigmatisation of both self and others among participants. Conclusions Gardening interventions can enhance the mental well-being in individuals with mental health diagnosis. Gardening interventions offer a holistic therapeutic approach by simultaneously addressing multiple aspects of well-being. The review suggests that the effectiveness of gardening interventions lies in their ability to holistically address well-being. Further work needs to develop inclusive interventions with longer-lasting benefits to establish gardening as a reliable tool for improving wellbeing. Key messages • Gardening as a green prescribing intervention facilitates an equitable environment where people with mental health diagnosis do not feel stigmatised, connect with nature and connect with others. • Facilitated gardening interventions can be a beneficial tool for improving wellbeing of people with mental health diagnosis by simultaneously addressing multiple aspects of wellbeing.