In an era where mental health challenges among children and adolescents are on the rise, innovative approaches to therapy are gaining traction. One such approach is forest therapy, a mindful, nature-based intervention that leverages the healing power of natural environments to support emotional and psychological well-being. In the United Kingdom, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), part of the National Health Service (NHS), has begun integrating forest therapy into its programs, collaborating with organizations like Forestry and Land Scotland and community rangers to offer therapeutic experiences in green spaces. This 2,000-word article explores the synergy between forest therapy and CAMHS, its benefits for young people, the science behind it, and its potential to reshape mental health care for the next generation.

Understanding CAMHS and Its Mission

The NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides community-based and inpatient support to children and young people under 18 across the UK. CAMHS addresses a spectrum of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, trauma, and difficulties managing emotions and behavior. Comprising multidisciplinary teams of nurses, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and support staff, CAMHS works collaboratively with young people and their families to foster safety, health, and resilience.

With mental health issues affecting one in six children aged 5–16 in the UK, according to a 2024 NHS Digital report, CAMHS faces increasing demand. Long waiting lists and resource constraints have prompted the service to explore complementary interventions like forest therapy, which offers a low-cost, accessible way to support young people while reducing pressure on clinical settings.

What Is Forest Therapy?

Forest therapy, often referred to as “forest bathing” (derived from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku), involves slow, mindful engagement with natural environments to promote relaxation and well-being. Unlike traditional outdoor activities, forest therapy emphasizes sensory immersion—listening to birdsong, feeling the texture of leaves, or inhaling the scent of pine—rather than physical exertion. Guided by trained facilitators or practiced independently, it fosters a deep connection to nature, which research shows can reduce stress, enhance mood, and improve mental clarity.

In the context of CAMHS, forest therapy is structured to meet therapeutic goals. Programs like the Therapeutic Forest Group Programme, a collaboration between CAMHS and Forestry and Land Scotland, incorporate activities such as pressed flower jar creation, fire lighting, wildlife quizzes, and guided mindfulness exercises. These activities are designed to engage young people creatively while addressing clinical objectives like emotional regulation and social connection.

The Science Behind Forest Therapy

The efficacy of forest therapy is grounded in robust scientific evidence. Studies, such as a 2024 ScienceDirect article, demonstrate that structured forest therapy programs significantly reduce negative mood states and improve positive emotions in children and adolescents with mental health disorders. A study involving 12 participants aged 9–14 showed improvements in mindfulness, connectedness to nature, and physiological health after two one-hour guided sessions. Metrics like the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) confirmed reduced anxiety and enhanced well-being.

Physiologically, forest therapy lowers cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate variability (HRV), indicators of stress. A 2021 study on juvenile probationers found that forest therapy improved psychological well-being, self-esteem, and sociability while reducing aggression, suggesting its potential for at-risk youth. The natural environment acts as a calming stimulus, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation, unlike the sympathetic system’s stress response.

For children and adolescents, whose brains are still developing, nature-based interventions can enhance neuroplasticity, supporting emotional regulation and cognitive growth. The sensory richness of forests—auditory, visual, tactile, and olfactory elements—engages multiple brain regions, fostering mindfulness and emotional stability. These benefits align with CAMHS’ goals of helping young people manage complex emotions and behaviors.

Forest Therapy in CAMHS Programs

The integration of forest therapy into CAMHS programs is a response to both clinical needs and cultural shifts toward holistic care. In Scotland, the Therapeutic Forest Group Programme at sites like Cuningar Loop exemplifies this approach. Community rangers, like Amanda from Forestry and Land Scotland, work closely with CAMHS teams to deliver sessions that combine nature-based activities with therapeutic principles. These sessions meet the criteria for the NHS Natural Health Award, allowing participants to earn certificates and receive tailored activity packs with maps and woodland activity guides to encourage continued engagement with nature.

Activities are carefully designed to address specific mental health challenges. For example, creating pressed flower jars fosters creativity and mindfulness, helping young people with anxiety focus on the present moment. Fire lighting builds confidence and teamwork, beneficial for those struggling with social withdrawal. Wildlife quizzes stimulate cognitive engagement, supporting youth with depression or low motivation. Each activity is underpinned by clinical reasoning, ensuring alignment with CAMHS’ evidence-based framework.

Across the UK, similar initiatives are emerging. Waltham Forest CAMHS, part of the North East London NHS Foundation Trust, collaborates with community partners to offer nature-based interventions in schools and green spaces, targeting issues like anxiety and neurodiversity. These programs emphasize early intervention, aiming to prevent escalation of mental health issues and reduce reliance on intensive clinical care.

Benefits for Young People

Forest therapy offers unique benefits for children and adolescents, particularly those accessing CAMHS services. Key advantages include:

1. Emotional Regulation: Mindful nature connection reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and irritability. The 2024 ScienceDirect study found significant reductions in negative mood states, with participants reporting feeling “calmer” and “more in control.”
2. Social Connection: Group-based forest therapy fosters cooperation and empathy, addressing social isolation common in conditions like autism or trauma. The 2021 probationer study noted improved sociability and group cohesion after forest therapy sessions.
3. Confidence and Resilience: Activities like fire lighting or earning the NHS Natural Health Award build self-esteem, empowering young people to tackle challenges. CAMHS participants often leave with a sense of achievement, reinforced by certificates and activity packs.
4. Accessibility: Unlike traditional therapy, which may feel intimidating, forest therapy is non-stigmatizing and engaging. Natural settings lower barriers to participation, making it ideal for youth reluctant to engage in clinical environments.
5. Physical Health: Time outdoors improves physical health, reducing obesity risks and enhancing sleep, which are critical for mental well-being. The Korea Forest Service notes that forest therapy strengthens immunity through exposure to natural elements like phytoncides.

These benefits align with CAMHS’ holistic approach, which prioritizes nurturing, active, and inclusive outcomes for young people.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its promise, integrating forest therapy into CAMHS faces challenges. Resource constraints, including limited funding and trained facilitators, can restrict program scalability. Rural areas may lack accessible green spaces, while urban settings require innovative solutions like park-based programs.

Equity is another concern. Low-income or marginalized communities may face barriers to accessing nature-based interventions, exacerbating health disparities. CAMHS programs must prioritize inclusivity, partnering with local councils to provide transport or subsidized access to forests.

The evidence base, while growing, remains limited by small sample sizes and short-term studies. Long-term impacts on mental health outcomes need further exploration to justify widespread adoption. Standardization of forest therapy protocols is also critical to ensure consistency across CAMHS regions.

Finally, some young people may initially resist outdoor activities due to unfamiliarity or discomfort. CAMHS clinicians must tailor programs to individual needs, offering gradual exposure and combining forest therapy with familiar interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

The Role of Community Partnerships

Collaboration is key to the success of forest therapy within CAMHS. Forestry and Land Scotland’s community rangers play a pivotal role, bringing expertise in environmental engagement and facilitating activities that align with therapeutic goals. Their work at Cuningar Loop demonstrates the impact of cross-sector partnerships, with rangers describing the role as “rewarding” and “directly impactful.”

Other partners, like Place2Be and Early Help, enhance CAMHS’ reach by embedding forest therapy in schools and community settings. Place2Be’s play-based therapy and drop-in sessions complement nature-based interventions, creating a continuum of care. These partnerships also facilitate skill-sharing, allowing CAMHS to refine programs based on real-world feedback.

A Vision for the Future

Forest therapy’s integration into CAMHS signals a broader shift toward holistic, nature-based mental health care. As climate change and urbanization intensify, green spaces will become critical sanctuaries for well-being. Scaling forest therapy requires investment in training, infrastructure, and research to establish it as a core CAMHS offering.

Policy support is essential. The UK government’s 2023 mental health strategy emphasizes early intervention and community-based care, aligning with forest therapy’s principles. Funding for green space access and ranger programs could amplify CAMHS’ impact, particularly in underserved areas.

For young people, forest therapy offers a lifeline—a chance to reconnect with themselves and the world around them. As Amanda, a community ranger, notes, “Supporting young people with their mental health is a big part of my role… knowing the direct impact we’re having is really rewarding.” This sentiment captures the heart of forest therapy: a blend of science, compassion, and nature’s timeless healing power.

Conclusion

Forest therapy with CAMHS represents a transformative approach to child and adolescent mental health, harnessing nature’s restorative qualities to address complex emotional and behavioral challenges. By blending mindful activities like pressed flower jars and wildlife quizzes with clinical expertise, programs like the Therapeutic Forest Group Programme offer young people a path to resilience, connection, and hope. Backed by scientific evidence and strengthened by community partnerships, forest therapy is poised to become a cornerstone of CAMHS’ holistic care model.

As we look to 2030, the integration of nature-based interventions could redefine mental health support, making it more accessible, engaging, and equitable. For children and adolescents navigating the storms of mental health challenges, forest therapy is more than a treatment—it’s an invitation to heal, grow, and thrive in the embrace of the natural world.