The Natur'Health project

Exposure to nature offers numerous health and well-being benefits—physical, mental, and social. Yet, in an era where the majority of the population lives in urban areas, individuals have increasingly less contact with nature. From a public health perspective, exposure to nature can be viewed as a health-promoting behavior that should be encouraged. While “nature prescriptions” have gained traction in some settings—such as forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) in Japan—questions remain unanswered:

What are the mechanisms underlying nature’s impact on health? What is the population’s level of exposure, and what are the links between this exposure and health-related or pro-environmental behaviors? How do the general public and healthcare professionals perceive exposure to nature? How can this be integrated into practice? Natur’Health aims to study the links between nature and health, addressing these questions through a transdisciplinary approach. The Natur’Health project will investigate these issues using a transdisciplinary approach structured around three key areas:

study of the neurophysiological and cognitive mechanisms involved in exposure to nature,
assessment of the population’s nature-related behaviors and social representations, and their links to health behaviors and mental health,
design and evaluation of the effects of nature-exposure programs in the context of chronic diseases, integrating approaches from public health, epidemiology, neuroscience, geography, and social psychology.

Project leaders:

Julie HAESEBAERT

Julie Haesebaert is a public health physician affiliated with the RESHAPE laboratory and the Hospices Civils de Lyon. She is a Professor of Public Health (PUPH) at the Lyon 1 Université and the Hospices Civils de Lyon, and a researcher with the INSERM RESHAPE team. She conducts research projects focusing on patient pathways and the adoption of health-related behaviors, employing participatory research approaches.

Frédéric HAESEBAERT

Frederic Haesebaert is a psychiatrist affiliated with the PsyR2 laboratory and Le Vinatier Hospital. He is a Professor of Adult Psychiatry (PUPH) at Lyon 1 Université and Le Vinatier Hospital. He conducts cognitive neuroscience research on vulnerability to psychotic disorders and develops clinical and interventional research projects for young adults experiencing a first psychotic episode, with the aim of improving their prognosis.psychiatre, laboratoire PsyR2 et CH le Vinatier.

Partners

Research on Healthcare Performance RESHAPE \| Inserm \| Université Lyon 1	Dr Marie VIPREY
Laboratoire de biométrie et biologie évolutive LBBE \| CNRS \| Université Lyon 1	Pr Dominique PONTIER
Radiation POPS \| Inserm \| Université Lyon 2	Pr Marie PREAU, Constanza PUPPO
Environnement Ville Société \| UMR 5600 CNRS \| Université Lyon 3	Dr Florent RENARD
Pôle de Pédiatrie Hospices Civils de Lyon	Dr Aurélie PORTEFAIX
ARRPAC Association Loi 1901	Pr Gilles RODE
Alliance Santé Planétaire Association Loi 1901	Dr Blandine MELLOUET
ComUE Lyon St Etienne Université De Lyon	Franck DEBOUCK

People are talking about it...

The Natur’Health transdisciplinary project was honored with an article in the gazette DIAG & SANTÉ.

🌿What if nature were a genuine form of medicine?
The Natur’Health project explores how a simple walk in the forest, time spent by the water, or prolonged contact with the natural world can improve our health, prevent certain diseases, and even support the management of chronic conditions. Combining neuroscience, psychology, epidemiology, and social sciences, this transdisciplinary research reveals innovative avenues for rethinking the prevention strategies and therapies of the future.

👉 Dive into the gazette DIAG & SANTÉ article to discover how researchers, doctors, and local stakeholders are joining forces to transform our connection with nature into a powerful driver of well-being and public health.