The Forest Healing programs conducted in national and public healing forests have been found to aid prenatal education for expecting mothers and alleviate the distress associated with infertility. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
DAEJEON, May 21 (Korea Bizwire) – In a remarkable discovery, the Forest Healing programs conducted in national and public healing forests have been found to aid prenatal education for expecting mothers and alleviate the distress associated with infertility, according to the Korea Forest Service.
As part of the lifecycle-focused forest welfare services, the ‘Forest Prenatal Education’ program, developed through a collaborative effort between the Korea Forest Service and the College of Nursing at Seoul National University, falls under the birth phase.
This standardized forest therapy program harnesses the restorative elements of nature, such as breathtaking landscapes, soothing wind sounds, and phytoncides (antimicrobial compounds emitted by plants).
Through immersive activities that facilitate emotional and physical bonding between expectant mothers and their unborn babies, the program has been found to reduce stress levels and enhance maternal-fetal attachment.
An analysis conducted by the Korea Forest Promotion Institute last year revealed that participants’ stress indices improved by 14.8%, while maternal-fetal attachment scores increased by 13.4%.
Beyond prenatal education, the Korea Forest Service has extended its support to couples struggling with infertility by collaborating with the Infertility Depression Counseling Center at the National Medical Center.
These tailored forest healing programs aim to provide emotional stability and psychological rehabilitation for individuals grappling with the challenges of infertility.
An evaluation of couples who participated in the program last year showed a 5.1% improvement in their infertility stress scores, highlighting the efficacy of these nature-based interventions in alleviating the emotional burden associated with infertility.
“The energy provided by forests and nature plays a vital role in restoring balance between body and mind,” said Nam Sung-hyun, the head of the Korea Forest Service.
“Through our ongoing forest healing programs, we strive to offer couples grappling with infertility a therapeutic environment where they can find solace and alleviate stress and anxiety.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
