Nature-Based and Forest Interventions in Mental Health

Persistent urban stress and traumatic life events are increasing the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, creating a substantial global mental health burden. Conventional interventions have limitations in long-term stress reduction and psychological recovery. Emerging evidence suggests that forest therapy, essential oil aromatherapy, and virtual reality (VR) may regulate stress responses, reduce hyperarousal, and improve psychological well-being. Integrating immersive VR forest environments with forest therapy and matched essential oil aromatherapy may provide an accessible, controlled, and complementary approach to stress reduction and PTSD rehabilitation. However, evidence on their combined effects and underlying mechanisms remains limited, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research.This Research Topic aims to address the research gap in integrated forest environment, essential oil, and VR-based nature interventions in psychiatry, focusing on stress reduction, alleviation of PTSD symptoms, enhancement of psychological well-being, and restoration of mental health. We will systematically explore the independent and synergistic effects of forest exposure, essential oil inhalation, and immersive VR on stress responses, trauma-related negative emotions, and cognitive function, including associated biomarkers such as cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin. We also aim to develop standardized combined intervention schemes for stress populations and PTSD patients, and establish complementary treatment pathways compatible with routine psychiatric therapy to support long-term mental rehabilitation.This Research Topic accepts original clinical trials, cohort studies, systematic reviews, intervention protocol research and translational commentaries. Encouraged themes include: - Stress-reduction biological biomarkers (e.g., cortisol, dopamine, serotonin) associated with forest bathing, nature therapy, essential oils, and VR-based nature interventions- Curative effects of these interventions, whether applied independently or in combination, on PTSD, anxiety and stress disorders- Matching rules for different essential oils and VR forest scenes- Rehabilitation outcomes of psychological well-being and impaired mental function- Safety assessment of forest, essential oil, and VR interventions. Papers without mental health, stress, or PTSD related indicators will not be accepted. Topic editors: Weiyin Chang, Bum-Jin Park Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85149/nature-based-and-forest-interventions-in-mental-health