TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Pilot evaluation of horticultural therapy in improving overall wellness in veterans with history of suicidality JO - Complementary therapies in medicine A1 - Meore, Anne A1 - Sun, Shengnan A1 - Byma, Lauren A1 - Alter, Sharon A1 - Vitale, Amanda A1 - Podolak, Evan A1 - Gibbard, Brooke A1 - Adams, Toby A1 - Boyer, James A1 - Galfalvy, Hanga A1 - Yehuda, Rachel A1 - Feder, Ann A1 - Haghighi, Fatemeh SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - OBJECTIVES: Novel approaches to mental health and suicide prevention are lacking. Converging evidence has shown the effectiveness of horticultural therapy (HT) in improving mental health symptoms, but whether it would reduce suicide risk and contributing risk factors is unknown.

DESIGN: Using a cohort model, HT was delivered 3.5 hours over four weekly, sessions administered by a registered horticultural therapist to veterans with history of suicide ideation or attempt who felt isolated and experienced ongoing environmental stressors with interest in learning new coping strategies. SETTING: HT delivery occurred in an urban garden, through a community partnership between the VA (Veterans Administration) and the New York Botanical Garden. Guided by principles of biophilia, participating veterans took part in nature walks, self-reflection and journaling, and planting activities. OUTCOME MEASURES: Stress, mood, pain, and social isolation levels were measured weekly pre-post HT sessions using thermometer scales, with concordant validity to validated clinical instruments.

RESULTS: Of the 20 men and women with a history of suicide attempts/ideation, HT demonstrated immediate improvements after each session across all symptom domains in magnitude of reduction in stress, pain, mood, and loneliness. The effect sizes were in medium to large range (Cohen's d>.5). Additionally, a single HT session showed a sustained effect over subsequent 2-to-4 weeks as observed by the significantly decreased pre-session thermometer scores in subsequent weeks. Reductions in mood symptoms correlated with decline in suicidal ideation (r(s) = 0.63).

CONCLUSION: HT intervention maybe a promising therapeutic modality for improving overall wellness in suicide prevention in at-risk veteran populations.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0965-2299 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102728 ID - ref1 ER -