This study examines how virtual walks of various urban green spaces and the associated perceptions affect different aspects of mental health in people currently living with depression.

The study “Virtual Urban Nature Walks” is being conducted by the Medical Faculty OWL of Bielefeld University, Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences Working Group, by Michel Rinderhagen.

This study consists of an online survey and typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete.

Your task is to watch a 10-minute video walk through an urban green space and fill out short questionnaires before and after. These questionnaires include questions about your perception of the green space and various aspects of your mental health.

We also collect demographic information (age, gender, and educational background) and health data (any diagnosed mental health conditions). Due to the size of the sample and the selected survey categories/response options, the data cannot be linked to any specific individual at any time.

By participating, you are helping to gather more information about how the living environment is perceived and its impact on people living with depression. In doing so, you are contributing to the advancement of research.

No compensation or reimbursement is provided for your participation in this scientific research project. Participation is not expected to result in any negative consequences or undue burden. The study poses no risks to you.

If you need support nonetheless, you can contact trained counselors via free helplines in your country. Please look for local crisis hotlines or mental health support services available in your region. For additional information and support regarding mental health, the following resources may be helpful:

https://www.iasp.info/

https://befrienders.org/

https://988lifeline.org

You can also search online for “mental health helpline” or “crisis support” together with the name of your country to find appropriate services near you.

Participation in this study is voluntary. You may withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and you will not suffer any disadvantages as a result.

The data collected as part of this study will be treated confidentially. Until the end of this session, you have the option to object to the storage of your data by withdrawing from the study. You can do this simply by closing the browser window. Your data will then be deleted immediately. After that, it will no longer be possible to delete specific data, as we store your data in anonymized form.

The study results are published in summary form, for example in academic journals, presentations, or courses.

Once the study is completed, the collected research data may be made publicly available, if appropriate, in anonymized form via a suitable data repository. The purpose, nature, and scope of potential secondary use cannot yet be predicted. The data will be published only in a form that at no time allows for the identification of specific individuals. By following this approach, the study adheres to the recommendations of the German Research Foundation (DFG) regarding research quality assurance.

If you have any questions about participation, consent, or data use, please feel free to contact the project coordinator:

Michel Rinderhagen
E-Mail: michel.rinderhagen@uni-bielefeld.de
Tel: +49(0)521 106-67991