Brief encounters with nature can significantly enhance our mental wellbeing. As ecosystems around us are harmed by climate change and human activity, understanding the value of nature for mental health becomes increasingly vital.

King’s researcher Andrea Mechelli is investigating whether time spent in natural environments can mitigate the impacts of heatwaves, air pollution, and biodiversity loss on our mental health.

In collaboration with Michael Smythe of London-based arts foundation Nomad Projects, Andrea’s team has developed NatureBoost, a smartphone app that provides participants with personalised insights on how connecting with nature can be beneficial to their mental health.

Researchers from the NatureBoost team will be in the gallery on select Saturdays from January 2025 to engage audiences in their project. Dates to be announced, check back for more details.

Andrea Mechelli (Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience) focusses his research on the identification of predictors of disease onset and treatment response in psychosis. This involves the application of machine learning methods to psychosocial and neuroimaging data. A core aim of his program is to exploit the translational potential of this information, using it to inform the development and evaluation of novel tools for early detection and treatment.

In the past few years, he has also been pursuing a new line of research, involving the use of smartphone technologies to monitor the impact of the surrounding environment on mental health in real time. As part of this line of research, he has developed Urban Mind, a cross-disciplinary project that brings together clinicians, neuroscientists, social scientists, urban planners and designers, architects, and artists with a shared interest in urban mental health.

Michael Smythe is an artist, urban farmer and creative director of Nomad Projects, an independent arts foundation that develops experimental projects across digital and location-specific spaces. Nomad Projects critically engages with issues surrounding environmental and social equality within the urban landscape. Current projects includes Phytology, an urban physic garden and research institute and Mobile Apothecary, a herbal medicine dispensary providing free healthcare to individuals and communities with limited access to accommodation and quality health care.