Impact of nature on the mental health and well-being of the ICU survivors: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Journal of Public Mental Health
ISSN: 1746-5729
Article publication date: 20 October 2023
Issue publication date: 4 December 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to comprehend the traumatic experiences of intensive care unit (ICU) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the same post-discharge. It assesses the role of nature and open green spaces on the mental health and well-being of critically ill patients.
Design/methodology/approach
Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study highlights the major factors contributing to adverse mental health and well-being. The subjects were interviewed using semi-structured personal interview techniques. Thematic content analysis was adapted to derive the major themes apparent in the succinctly rich information gathered from the participants.
Findings
The findings cast light on the significant role of nature and open green spaces in psychotherapeutic healing post-discharge of intensive care survivors.
Originality/value
The study is novel and adds to the existing literature in an advanced manner. To the best of the author’s knowledge, no other study was witnessed, especially in the Indian context, confirming the relationship between humans and nature with ICU patients as a subset.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author sincerely thanks to the editor for providing insightful suggestions. She would like to express her gratitude to Julian Ashton for providing his insightful review.
Declaration of interest statement: The authors declare that there is no competing interest to declare.
Citation
Kaur, S. (2023), "Impact of nature on the mental health and well-being of the ICU survivors: an interpretative phenomenological analysis", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 245-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-01-2023-0006
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited