The short film features stories from across Scotland and highlights how outdoor programmes have supported individuals in overcoming addiction and mental health challenges.
Among those featured is Shona, who credits the outdoors-focused charity Venture Trust, based near Tullibody, with helping her recover from 30 years of alcohol dependence and trauma.
Her story is especially moving because she also lives with agoraphobia.
Shona said: “I spent three years not leaving the house.
“Some days it’s still hard, but I set myself a challenge that I have to be up, dressed and out of the house by 10 o’clock every day.
“In recovery, they say to accept a higher power.
“Mine is Mother Nature because she’s available to me.
“I’m lucky that I have a beach at the bottom of my road and hills at the top.”
She now volunteers with Venture Trust and met her best friend Jennifer through the programme.
The film explores the value of friendship in the recovery process.
The documentary, Green Threads: Weaving Stories of Nature and Recovery, was produced through a University of Stirling-led project and funded by the Society for the Study of Addiction.
Jennifer is one year ahead of her in recovery, and while they use different methods to address their trauma and substance use, both women say time outdoors is essential.
Jennifer said: “I accessed Venture Trust’s outdoor therapy, which helped me with the trauma of losing my ex-partner in addiction.
“I also deal with it through methods like acting and volunteering.”
The film will be shown this week at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy.
A screening also took place last week at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow.
Dr Wendy Masterton, senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Stirling, said: “Apart from the physical and social benefits of nature-based programmes, it is clear from our research that these activities bring feelings of purpose and a positive outlook for participants.
“It’s powerful to hear their stories on film, and we hope the documentary will be another stepping stone to establishing more nature-based initiatives and showing how effective they can be as an approach to substance use support.”
The film has been created as a resource to encourage more people onto nature-based programmes, and to encourage more healthcare professionals and strategic decision makers to buy into them.
The documentary will then be shared widely with recovery networks, healthcare professionals and Scottish Government.
Attending the film screenings will be programme participants, staff, their friends and families, as well as academics, alcohol and drug partnership representatives, and NHS and third sector practitioners.
The success stories back up research from the University of Stirling which has evidenced why these types of programmes appear to work for poor mental health and substance dependence.
The screening events follow the launch last month of University of Stirling-developed manuals to help health and social care providers design and deliver nature-based programmes.