Nature-based interventions (NBIs) are becoming a common mental health care referral option; however, little is known about the barriers to participation. Research reveals a concentration of evidence on the practical barriers with a paucity of guidance on the personal barriers as experienced by service users. This review explores what is known on the psychological, psychosocial and physical barriers as disclosed by adult mental health service users and the various stakeholders involved in NBI. Nine of the 104 articles screened met the inclusion criteria. The review identified a total of 47 barriers in which the majority were standalone barriers unique to the individual article or participant that generated them. However, other barriers suggest a level of universality with the greatest array of barriers identified in the psychosocial category. The review highlights an urgent need for further research on the psychological, psychosocial and physical barriers to NBI participation.
Keywords: NBI; barrier; mental health; nature-based intervention; physical; psychological; psychosocial.