Health & Environment
Recent studies have demonstrated that urban living is associated with lower levels of physical activity and increased risk of obesity and mental health issues such as anxiety. Complementing investments to improve health and wellbeing, the World Health Organisation has also been pushing for novel socio-ecological approaches to promoting health and healthy living.
Relatedly, while people are now more aware of the global environmental crisis, and protecting nature more, some are still strongly affected by anxiety and grief. Feelings of fear and loss surface when landscapes and ecosystems drastically change with environmental degradation. Employing a health-centric lens to examine environmental change, this panel encourages the discussion of alternative approaches to environmentalism and urban planning.
Dr Kua Ee Heok
“Ecology of Resilience”
Dr Kua is Tan Geok Yin Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience and a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Through his extensive research and writing in the fields of psychiatry, Prof Kua has contributed toward destigmatizing mental illnesses in Singapore. He has also won multiple awards, and was conferred the Distinguished Psychiatrist Award 2015 by the Singapore Psychiatric Association.
Together with Ms Sia, the duo have written the chapter, Green Environment and Mental Health in the City, in the book Mental Health And Illness In Cities. The chapter takes a closer look at how green urbanism promotes positive impacts on the mental health and cognitive functions of those living in dense cities.
His presentation will focus on a recent Nature and Mindful Awareness Study (NaMAS) at the rainforest of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The results of the physical, mental and social health of the participants will be discussed.
Ms Rachel Oh
“The importance of family values, social norms and nature experiences on how we connect to nature.”
Ms Rachel Oh is currently finishing her PhD at the University of Queensland. Having worked at NParks prior to her candidature, Ms Oh has always valued and prioritised research that contributed solutions towards reversing the environmental and biodiversity crisis. She currently focuses on understanding relationships between people and nature, as well as how we can develop knowledge, strategies and policies that protect and benefit people’s health and wellbeing and improve nature conservation.
Understanding what strengthens a person’s connection to nature is important to achieve broad-based public support for environmentally protective policies and strategies. In her presentation, Ms Oh will share more about a national survey she has conducted and how family values, social norms and experiences of nature influence how we connect with nature. Her presentation will also draw upon similar studies conducted in Europe.
Ms Angelia Sia
“Role of research in informing programs – Case study of Therapeutic Horticulture in Singapore”
Ms Angelia Sia is currently a PhD candidate with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS. Concurrently, she holds the position of deputy director for research at the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) at the National Parks Board. Besides her experience in research on the connection between nature and health, Ms Sia is also the editor of CITYGREEN, an award-winning CUGE publication.
Her presentation will provide a broad overview of the health benefits of contact with urban greenery, with a special focus on therapeutic horticulture, a targeted nature-based program. The research on the effects of therapeutic horticulture in Singapore provides evidence based information for policy makers to consider in the planning of infrastructure and programmes, with the aim of improving the wellbeing of the older population.
Ms Valencia Wong
“FriendzoneSG: Creating Community in our neighbourhoods”
A CAPT Alumni, Ms Valencia Wong co-founded FriendzoneSG together with Mr Tham Jun Han and Ms Grace Ann Chua. After graduating from university, Ms Wong and her team began seeing potential in adapting the NUS residential college model into our neighbourhoods. Wanting to bring youths in our neighbourhoods closer, the concept of FriendzoneSG was born, and is focused on creating opportunities for young people to connect with one another. The initiative has shown success in combating social isolation and disconnectedness within neighbourhoods.
FriendzoneSG is currently working on a project to validate their model of community animation. In their presentation, the team will summarise their key findings and discuss the impact of their community model across 10 neighbourhoods in Singapore. Within each neighbourhood, they hope to attract participation from inactive or under-engaged young adults and inspire neighbourliness and community ownership.