The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 12 May 2026 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Lesley Gittings.

About the Seminar:

Nature Prescriptions for Youth Mental Health Perspectives from Canada and an exploration of their applicability to the South African context

Nature Prescriptions (Nature Rx) are an innovative nature-based intervention that is gaining popularity to support sustainable mental and physical health.

Nature Rx involves health and social workers providing a written recommendation to connect with the natural world. Despite growing evidence on the benefits of Nature Rx for physical and mental health, scant evidence explores their feasibility and potential benefits for youth, and this is especially true in the South African context.

This seminar will first present findings from an exploratory qualitative study on Nature Rx for youth health and well-being, focused on the perspectives and experiences of 21 youth, health, and social providers in Ontario, Canada. Second, it will explore the applicability of Nature Rx in the South African context, with attention to potential relevance, barriers, and facilitators.

Speakers

Lesley Gittings is an Assistant Professor at Western University in Canada and an Honorary Research Associate (CSSR, UCT).

  12 May 2026
  12:45 - 14:00 SAST
  MS Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/313525536386479?p=SKDXQbcB0s2XxQQkPw

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa