Who are you and for what partner organisation do you work?
My name is Jill Litt and I am a senior researcher at the Barcelona Institute of Global Health in Barcelona, Spain and a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. I am originally from the United States and have been in Barcelona since 2016.
What is your expertise related to nature-based therapy?
I am an environmental epidemiologist working for the past 20 years to examine how natural and built environments, such as community gardens and other natural spaces, impact the physical and mental health of residents and the mechanisms by which social connections and nature contact amplify these impacts. I am a mixed-methods researcher, using experimental, observational, and qualitative methods to understand the effectiveness of community-based interventions to improve health and wellbeing.
Can you describe the Case Study (CS) you lead in a couple of sentences?
I am currently co-leading the Barcelona case study with Dr. Matilda van den Bosch to evaluate the effectiveness of a nature-based therapeutic intervention to improve health for people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Specifically, we will guide individuals over a five-week period to experience time in nature (e.g., coastal areas of Barcelona) and use healing techniques such as meditation to manage and improve core physiological and behavioral indicators such as heart rate variability, blood pressure, inflammation, stress, and a host of other markers that influence metabolic disease and long-term health consequences.
What excites you most about the RESONATE project?
As the leader of a sister project, RECETAS, which aims to test nature-based social prescription interventions to alleviate loneliness and improve quality of life, I am most excited about creating synergies between RECETAS and RESONATE, sharing knowledge, and growing a robust evidence base to advance nature-based social interventions to support health and wellbeing worldwide.
Moreover, I am excited to work side by side with scholars in research, practice, and policy to ensure that our practice-informed research generates meaningful impact for those suffering from chronic health conditions and those trying to develop solutions to reduce risk and prevent disease.
What is your own favourite way to engage with nature
for your health and wellbeing?
I cherish my time outdoors and enjoy running or going for long walks with my family and my Weimaraner-Labrador dog, Hope. When there is a bit more time, I find my way to Val D’Aran in the Pyrenees where there are beautiful trails for hiking, cycling, and skiing.
X: @jsllsj01
Instagram: @jill.litt.phd
LinkedIn: @jill-litt-40201131
