Aquaponics in psychological care

[Mörður Gunnarsson Ottesen]

I'm looking into using aquaponics in psychological care, I just made an presentation about aquaponics to an organization that uses gardening/plants in indoor and outdoor designs for psychological and physical health.

 

They liked the idea of using aquaponics so much that they are using a system as the center of  a new design for the outdoor area in an psychiatric care hospital.

 

 

[Mörður Gunnarsson Ottesen]

Thanks for all the replies, I will be following up on the info you provided. 

The health benefits of aquaponics are in my mind a real certainty as I have seen studies on both the effects of plants and aquariums (an aquarium full of water even does good without fishes) for mental health and relaxation. Air traffic managers in Iceland have to go into a room filled with aquariums for one hour both before and after there shift. This has dramatically reduced flight delays and errors, thus saving money for the flightcontrol at Keflavik International. (source Páll Líndal (I assume he's statistics are from Keflavik International)

[Sahib Punjabi]

Here you are Sir

 

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/profiles/blogs/aquaponics-as-therapy...

 

God bless

[Eric Warwick]

Gardening helps slow the proggression of alzhiemers and a dynamic garden will probably be even better.

[TCLynx]

Philip Wolf set up an aquaponic system in one of the green houses at We Grow Dreams near Chicago where disabled young people learn job skills and the greenhouses sell ornamental plants and now after the aquaponics they also sell herbs and veggies.

[steve]

Nice!! Rachel, I love the way you promote (don't like to use that word much), Aquaponics. Wouldn't it be nice to have large gardens in the city where people could lease or use tanks for growing. Also get a share of the fish too. Volunteer and enjoy the surroundings. I don't know how people can take it in the city, I go crazy sometimes in the jungle.

[Raychel A Watkins]

My son in law had a menigoma 6 cm in size removed from the frontal lobe area of his brain 2 years ago.  This is considered traumatic brain injury.  He can not work.  He has a hard time focusing after being up a few hours.  I had him come to my house this summer and work in the aquaponics.  The difference it has made is tremendous.  He is able to focus much better.  He has a purpose.  He has worked wonders at my place.  He is very skilled but must work at the pace he can now.  It has brought calmness yet excitment to his life. He has to go back this week and have radiation treatment as the tumor has returned.  I expect to have him back next summer for his second round of treatment.  There is no question that it is physologicaly good for you even without studies. As the man in the Excederan commercial said "It works you know how I know I took it and my headache went away

[Jake Schneider]

What an awesome way to promote AP.  The Mexia State Supported Living Center in Mexia, Tx is a large facility for the mentally disabled.  They have a large green house that some of the residents work in as a daily job.  You might be able to contact them for information on the benifits of working with plants for their residents.  Many of the residents that work in the green house love their job.  I know that they grow and sell ornamental plants, but i'm not sure what else.  Let me know if you want contact info. 

[TCLynx]

All sorts of things connecting us to nature can be very beneficial.  Off hand I don't know of any studies, I would just have to go google.

But anyway, moving water, flowing water can have a very calming effect (unless it sends you to pee every 5 minutes.)  Watching a siphon function.  Watching a waterfall.  Watching fish.  Tending plants.  All very therapeutic I think.

[Mörður Gunnarsson Ottesen]

Sahib, could you link that blog that you referred to. Any information that can get me on the right trail is much appreciated.

[Mörður Gunnarsson Ottesen]

I am perhaps putting this post at the wrong place, maybe I should have made a forum post. 

Does anyone know of studies about the application of aquaponics in psychological care?

The organization "Umhverfi og heilsa" which I referred to in my blog have studies that illustrate the health benefits of aquariums (even if there are no fish), fish in aquariums and heap of studies about the health benefits of plants.

I would really like to find some studies that supports using fish and plants together.