Last updated: October 2021
A community project named Green Rehab in Göteborg’s botanical garden and it is “a nature-based rehabilitation programme for workers suffering from stress-related illness or mild depression in Sweden's Västra Götaland Region. The programme offers a new beginning for employees on long-term sick leave, by combining traditional occupational, physio- and psychotherapy with recent research insights into how gardens and nature can aid recovery from illness. The goal is that a participant who completes the programme will go back to work again and achieve a better quality of life. (Ref. 1)
Västra Götalandsregionen
https://www.vgregion.se/ov/grona-rehab/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Botanical gardens
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature
Project objectives
The main goal for the project is to increase the use of nature to improve well-being (and this is done through participants completing the programme at the Green Rehab Centre). (Ref. 3)
The objectives of this goal are:
1. Rehabilitation for those suffering from depression or stress from work life.
2. New and more productive beginning of working life.
3. Enhanced wellbeing. (Ref. 1)
Implementation activities
Green Rehab has been active since 2006 and during this period more than 500 people have been involved in the programs. Research has also been linked to the business. Through special resources from the Västra Götaland region, a dissertation where Green Rehab has been the focus. In particular, the importance of green in rehabilitation has been studied. (Ref. 3)
Green Rehab offers rehabilitation in a natural and garden environment. The activity is based on the research-based knowledge of the garden and nature's good ability to make us humans stress. This knowledge is combined with established methods in physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and offers therapeutic conversations in groups. The participants sow and harvest in the garden and walk together in Änggårdsbergen or in the Botanical Garden. During the winter, creative activity in natural materials takes up more space. In the garden, trees and shrubs are pruned. The business also offers body awareness, stress management, image work and supportive conversations. The groups consist of 7 people. The team includes a biologist, gardener, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and psychotherapist. The combination of nature and gardening contributes to recovery. (Ref. 1 and 5)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Public sector institution
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project "Green Rehab" (GR) started as a development cooperation in the Västra Götaland region (VGR) between the Environment Committee, the Public Health Committee, the Staff Committee and the Göteborg’s Botanical Garden. (Ref. 4)
Furthermore, through special resources from the Västra Götaland region, a dissertation where Green Rehab has been the focus. In particular, the importance of green in rehabilitation has been studied. (Ref. 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved mental health
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
Ref. 1. BGCI (n.d.) Göteborg Botanical Garden. Garden, Community Projects, Sweden - Göteborg. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 2. Västra Götalandsregionen (n.d.) Det fria Gröna Rehab. Göteborgs botaniska trädgård. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 3. Göteborgs botaniska trädgård (2016) Gröna Rehab i Botaniska fyller 10 år. Botaniska. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 4. Sahlin, E., Ahlborg, Jr. G., Matuszczyk, J., Grahn, P. (2014) Nature-Based Stress Management Course for Individuals at Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Work-Related Stress—Effects on Stress Related Symptoms, Workability and Sick Leave. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 5. Göteborgs botaniska trädgård (2017) Gröna Rehab. Om oss. Botaniska. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 6. Västra Götalandsregionen (2017) Forskning vid Gröna Rehab. Fakta & forskning, Gröna Rehab. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 7. Sahlin, E. & Ahlborg, Jr. G. (2010) Utvärdering av projektet Gröna Rehab. ISM-häfte nr 3, Sammanfattning. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 8. Sahlin, E. & Ahlborg, G.jr. (2010) Utvärdering av projektet Gröna Rehab. ISM häfte nr 3. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 2. Västra Götalandsregionen (n.d.) Det fria Gröna Rehab. Göteborgs botaniska trädgård. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 3. Göteborgs botaniska trädgård (2016) Gröna Rehab i Botaniska fyller 10 år. Botaniska. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 4. Sahlin, E., Ahlborg, Jr. G., Matuszczyk, J., Grahn, P. (2014) Nature-Based Stress Management Course for Individuals at Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Work-Related Stress—Effects on Stress Related Symptoms, Workability and Sick Leave. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 5. Göteborgs botaniska trädgård (2017) Gröna Rehab. Om oss. Botaniska. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 6. Västra Götalandsregionen (2017) Forskning vid Gröna Rehab. Fakta & forskning, Gröna Rehab. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 7. Sahlin, E. & Ahlborg, Jr. G. (2010) Utvärdering av projektet Gröna Rehab. ISM-häfte nr 3, Sammanfattning. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Ref. 8. Sahlin, E. & Ahlborg, G.jr. (2010) Utvärdering av projektet Gröna Rehab. ISM häfte nr 3. Retrieved from Source link on 13th November, 2020.
Västra Götalandsregionen
https://www.vgregion.se/ov/grona-rehab/om-grona-rehab/innehall-och-aktiviteter/