ArticleBehavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Clinicians' Perceptions of Nature-Based Interventions in Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study from Pakistan.
Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMental health conditions remain a major yet underrepresented public health concern in Pakistan and globally, highlighting the need for innovative and complementary interventions. Nature-based interventions (NBIs), which involve structured engagement with natural environments to enhance health and wellbeing, offer a promising approach, particularly in the Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a region renowned for its Himalayan forests, scenic valleys, and rich biodiversity.
methodsThis study employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore mental health clinicians' perceptions of NBIs in community mental health settings. Fourteen clinicians from the Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling between February and March 2026. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and audio-recorded. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's framework, supported by HyperRESEARCH software.
resultsParticipants generally perceived engagement with nature as calming, restorative, and therapeutically beneficial, and many reported informally encouraging clients to participate in nature-related activities. Clinicians expressed willingness to integrate NBIs into routine practice and identified potential benefits including improved mood, relaxation, empowerment, and enhanced social connectedness. However, several barriers were also identified, including client-related factors such as anxiety, low motivation, and skepticism, as well as contextual and organisational constraints such as gender-based limitations in access to natural spaces and safety-related policies.
conclusionsDespite these challenges, clinicians demonstrated strong support for NBIs, suggesting their potential as a feasible adjunct to mental health care in Pakistan. Addressing identified barriers may facilitate integration into routine services and enhance access to holistic mental health support in community settings.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.