Can the prescription of social activities in natural spaces reduce feelings of loneliness and improve quality of life in urban contexts? Explore how strong meaningful collaborations can create better realities for crucial issues in harmony with nature.
On October 7, 2025, Barcelona hosted one of six events marking World Mental Health Day, organised by the Recetas Project, ISGlobal (the prestigious Barcelona Institute of Global Health), and public institutions like the Health Department of Generalitat de Catalunya and the UE.
The gathering brought together policymakers, health professionals, researchers, and community organisations to explore how nature and social connection can help alleviate loneliness.
Dr Jill Litt from ISGlobal, FTHub Summer School Barcelona expert and FTHub Summer School Oceans expert, and Dr Mònica Ubalde from ISGlobal -biologist, PhD in Biomedicine and Public Health, FTHub Forest Therapy Practitioner and FTHub Summer School Costa Rica expert– participated in the event, alongside FTHub Forest Therapy Practitioners trained in Barcelona: Sofia Aparicio, Head of Socioeconomic Development at the Natural Parks Network of the Diputació de Barcelona, Maria Oromí, and Norbert Leal.
Among the key contributions, Alex Gesse, Executive Director of FTHub, presented the FTHub 5 Components of Nature-Based Interventions, the framework developed by FTHub that is setting a new benchmark for the field.
This model represents a decisive step toward the standardisation of interventions, offering benefits that strengthen both practice and research:
- Enhancing comparability across international studies
- Supporting the unification of approaches across disciplines
- Preserving the flexibility needed to adapt interventions to diverse audiences and natural environments
“Our new approach is to advocate for the 5 Components to become the standard in nature-based therapies or interventions,” said Gesse. “This is how we reinforce the field with robust frameworks while safeguarding the adaptability required for real-world practice.”
An international gathering in Barcelona
The event at the Jardins de la Maternitat served as a meeting point for cross-sectoral dialogue and collaboration among regional, national, and international stakeholders.
Programme highlights included the overview of Loneliness and Policy Strategies, with opening remarks by Esteve Fernández, Secretary of Public Health of the Department of Health of Catalunya, and Ledia Lazëri, Regional Advisor for Mental Health at WHO Europe. Also emerging evidence on nature-based and social solutions, and interactive sessions and photo exhibitions showcasing local and international initiatives.
“Sister” projects advancing nature-based therapies
The event was supported by projects and institutions contributing to a shared ecosystem of nature-based initiatives, including GreenMe, Resonate, Fundació Sanitària Millet, SPACE, Lonely EU, and the Forest Therapy Hub.
Sister projects GreenMe, Resonate and NATURELAB investigate how interactions with natural environments can improve people’s lives. While each project has its own methodology and scope, they share common goals, complementary insights, and a commitment to producing evidence-based approaches that can transform practice across Europe and beyond.
A project to reduce loneliness
The RECETAS project (Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces) is composed of 13 institutions from 9 countries, and uses multidisciplinary approaches to implement Nature-Based Social Prescribing (NBSP). It is conducting three observational studies and three randomised controlled trials across six cities worldwide: Barcelona, Marseille, Prague, Helsinki, Cuenca (Ecuador), and Melbourne.
Act now, enrolling in our Forest Bathing Guide Training and Forest Therapy Practitioner Training. Grow together, equipping you with essential skills to lead transformative experiences in nature.
