Vinathe Sharma-Brymer

Introduction: Consensus guidelines recommend the use of age appropriate and validated assessment tools to monitor and discuss psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Our study explored healthcare professionals' (HCPs) standardized psychological screening tool use and experiences discussing mental health concerns, in pediatric diabetes care worldwide.

Methods: Data were collected via a survey, using a research team developed, externally reviewed and piloted questionnaire (English and Portuguese); administered via Google Forms. Research team partners advertised the survey through their electronic newsletters, websites and social media platforms.

Results: Overall, 204 HCP's (90 physicians, 47 nurses, and 67 others) responded; covering 33 countries and six continents. Half (49%) indicated their centers didn't perform any psychological screening; 51% of those that did used standardised psychological screening tools. Most (69.1%) were confident discussing mental health concerns; those were not detailed lack of time and resources and not wanting to cause offence. Some perceived depression (46.1%) and disordered eating (40.7%) screening should occur annually; diabetes distress (40.7%) every three months. Few (2.9%) perceived psychological screening should not be undertaken.

Conclusion: There is a need for increased focus on mental health screening and related support, for both HCPs, youth with diabetes, and where applicable their caregivers.

Drawing on in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study explores the therapeutic benefits of outdoor experiences through the lived experiences of 24 outdoor practitioners, including educators, environmentalists, therapists, and program leaders. Three core themes emerged: (a) nature as an emotional regulator and reflective space; (b) therapeutic benefits of human–nature relationships; and (c) decolonial, bioregional, and cultural healing. Although practitioners facilitated physical challenges and skill-building for their participants, they primarily described outdoor experiences as relational, somatic, and culturally rooted practices that foster emotional regulation, grief processing, identity integration, and social inclusion. Healing emerged through solitude, silence, ancestral connections, sacred landscapes, inclusive dynamics, and the restoration of cultural knowledge. This study’s results challenge Western-centric outdoor education models by foregrounding Indigenous and postcolonial perspectives embedded in Indian ecological traditions. The results contribute to global discussions on decolonizing outdoor fields and offer implications for culturally responsive, emotionally safe, and ecologically grounded practices.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The nexus between human–nature relationships and environmental change is significant across transdisciplinary education, research, and practice engagement. An escalating body of evidence highlights the substantial impact of human actions on the natural environment. The changes in climate have multiple effects on natural ecosystems as well as human conditions (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2023). Considering the health inequities across high- and low-income countries (Butler & Hanigan, 2019), it is essential to examine the impacts of climate change on the health and well-being of populations living in rural, remote, and regional areas, particularly for women and children (Algur et al., 2021; Furusawa et al., 2021; Jegasothy et al., 2017; WHO, 2021). An intersectional approach may better inform the overall negative effects of climate change at individual, family, and community levels.

Research evidence also highlights critical opportunities for mitigating the negative impacts of environmental change by fostering reciprocal and sustainable human–nature relationships (Sharma-Brymer et al., 2025). Sustainability is about meeting our current needs as well as building support for future generations to meet their own needs (United Nations, n.d.). Sustainability is linked to human development through integrated approaches to healthy natural environments, including ecosystems and species health and well-being. Human health and well-being are intricately woven with environmental changes which in current times are resulting in climate anxiety, depression, and stress (Walinski et al., 2023). Globalization and capitalism have produced a socioeconomic system that benefits a few rather than adequately supporting communities. This can be seen in the corporatization of natural resources resulting in exclusion and marginalization of the many. The suppression of the rights and self-determination of the world’s Indigenous peoples and grassroots communities has escalated urbanization and modern capital economies that are unsustainable. The ill-effects of consumption are widely spread across the planet disrupting reciprocal human–nature relationships.

The critical opportunities for reviving such relationships are increasingly being valued and negotiated, favouring sustainable actions for healthy planet and people (Lengieza et al., 2023; Willis et al., 2025). Research from an array of disciplines and fields such as psychology, social sciences, humanities, social work, public health, bio-ecological sciences, human movement, and sport sciences is showing the importance of sustainable human–nature interactions for addressing the impacts of environmental change besides enhancing sustainability focus. Different worldviews and proactive participation from the civil society are positively recognized as key intersecting aspects in sustainability dialogue. This Special Issue aims to shine this dialogue in finer light by bringing together current research evidence and perspectives to critically examine human–nature relationships in the contexts of environmental change and the ways for improving the broader focus on sustainability.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

1. The nexus between human–nature relationships and the contexts of environmental changes
2. Contextual analyses of environmental changes and climate justice impacts
3. The role of human–nature relationships in advancing sustainability
4. Empirical studies that examine climate change impact on human–nature relationships and sustainability
5. Cross-disciplinary studies examining the intersections of human–nature relationships, the diverse contexts of environmental changes, and sustainability
6. Theoretical contributions guiding human–nature relationships and sustainability
7. Methodological engagement and innovations in studying human–nature relationships, environmental changes, and sustainability
8. Interventions for promoting human–nature relationships, ecosocial justice, and sustainability
9. Active citizenship and community engagement in sustainability and environmental justice
10. Behaviour-change for sustainability and reciprocal human–nature relationships
11. Barriers and enablers affecting sustainable human–nature relationships and ecosocial justice

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

This paper reports a study of Indian women practitioners’ contributions to the growth of outdoor and adventure education (OAE) in India. The OAE fields in India have grown rapidly along with the 21st century globalisation phenomenon. Indian men OAE practitioners are mostly credited with contributions and leadership in the fields, overlooking women’s roles, participation, and contributions. This marks the need for examining diverse socio-cultural constructions of OAE fields in India. In the specific context of gender and OAE, the authors examine if hegemonic masculinity is maintained in the Indian outdoor industry and if so, how do women practitioners challenge it. The analysis of semi-structured interviews with six women practitioners reveals their effective participation, contributions, and leadership in progressing OAE fields in India despite barriers and challenges from male-centric approaches. The findings highlight women practitioners’ transformative agency and leadership role in disrupting hegemony in OAE fields in India.

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of best practice interventions focused on people who use abuse against older people, covering two key components: (1) a scoping review of the literature on studies evaluating interventions for abuse of older people, informal carer support, and domestic and family violence (DFV), and (2) interviews and focus group with stakeholders working in organisations relevant to abuse of older people prevention.

Background: With growing interest in nature-based interventions for health, establishing implementation frameworks for prescribing nature in diverse settings is crucial. This study aims to develop and validate a nature prescribing framework tailored for the Australian healthcare context, employing a Delphi methodology to harness expert consensus.

Methods: The study utilised a two-round Delphi technique to gather insights from experts across various health and environmental sectors. Participants included healthcare providers, managers and policymakers engaged in or knowledgeable about nature prescribing. The initial framework, which was informed by earlier interviews with parties who prescribe or provide nature-based health interventions, was refined through the Delphi process, aiming for consensus on implementation criteria and associated practices.

Results: Sixteen experts participated in the first Delphi round, with 13 completing the second round. Participants reached consensus on five essential domains of the nature prescribing framework, which included Community: consultation and customisation, Systems: building partnerships and networks, Prescribers: cultivating awareness and capacity, Providing prescriptions: psychosocial foundations and External settings: interfacing social and natural environments. Perceived barriers and enablers to application were considered within the framework, including contextual and environmental factors, awareness and capacity among prescribers and public, and the role of infrastructure support.

Conclusion: The nature prescribing framework offers a structured approach to integrating nature-based activities into health practices, addressing both individual and community health needs. It is adaptable to various Australian settings, promoting broader implementation of nature-based prescriptions. Future research should focus on implementing and evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of the framework in diverse demographic and geographic contexts.

Understanding learning, performance and health outcomes in nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport

Interest in nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport and the implications for learning, performance and health outcomes has emerged as a global phenomenon over the last few decades. Comparatively, traditional perspectives on motivations, learning, performance and wellbeing have been critiqued for their standardization and normalization. Nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport (e.g. green exercise, adventure recreation, trail running, community gardening, forest therapy, park run, forest school, mountain biking) have been promoted as vital for human health, well-being and considered as important for community and planetary health. The rapid rise in participation rates in nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport has overtaken many traditional sporting activities, and many nature-based sports and physical activities are now fundamental to education and health contexts, including being prescribed through health systems (e.g. green social prescribing). Learning from participant experiences has also contributed to our understanding of the broader human condition. It seems that the momentum for nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport is intensifying. At the same time, emerging research points to a more interlinked understanding of learning, performance and wellbeing. This calls for alternative ways of building knowledge and undertaking research that are capable of revealing the nuanced perspectives of the human dimensions of participation in nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport supporting both qualitative and quantitative paradigms. This special issue brings together cutting-edge research and thought, examining ‘Learning, Performance, and Health in Nature-based Physical Activity, Exercise, Sport and abilitation’. In particular, but not exclusively, we are interested in research and ideas that examine:

• Becoming a participant
• Effective performance
• Learning and behaviour change
• Outcomes from participation
• Psychological aspects of performance
• Skill development and self-awareness through nature-based physical activity
• Maintaining health and wellbeing through nature-based physical activity, exercise or sport
• The relationship between performance and wellbeing in the context of nature-based physical activity
• Methodological issues
• Conceptual frameworks
• Definitions
• Barriers to participation
• Impacts of nature-based physical activity, exercise or sport on society and environment
• The relationship between nature-based physical activity and social wellbeing.
• Societal perceptions of nature-based physical activity, exercise and sport.
• The role of nature-based sports in green social prescribing.

Submission Instructions

Submission timeline:

• due date for submission of full papers for review: 23:59, 28th February 2026
• expected completion of reviews: August

This report evaluates the early progress of the HBNC Connecting Communities Social Prescription Program and reviews its current effectiveness in community reach, engagement, the role of place, and pathways to a sustainable program. It presents the findings from evaluating the program’s first 12 months, based on a mixed methods research design. Data collection included 87 client surveys and 17 in-depth qualitative interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders including clients, referrers, link workers and managers.