With South Africa’s increasing burden of mental health challenges, a transformative research project is unveiling novel ways in which local scientists hope the night sky can enhance well-being, reduce stress and foster social connections.
The Independent on Saturday reports that teams from Stellenbosch University’s CoCREATE Health Hub, with the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development, are delving into how stargazing might support mental resilience.
With nearly 40% of South Africans experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, the urgency for innovative and accessible approaches to mental health has never been more pronounced, and the pioneering initiative, dubbed Astronomy for Mental Health, marks a first for South Africa, scientifically exploring the potential of awe, immersion in nature, and “cosmic perspective-taking” in tackling mental and emotional well-being.
A cosmic toolkit for mental health
Under the leadership of Professor Lynn Hendricks, Dr Therese Fish and Nikki Thomas of Stellenbosch University, with Dominic Vertue, Dr Charles Takalana and Kevin Govender from the IAU OAD, the project examines how structured stargazing sessions – ranging from community gatherings to elaborate overnight retreats – can bolster mental health.
This research is grounded in Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory, which posits that natural environments, particularly those that engage the senses in a gentle manner, can facilitate mental recovery from fatigue.
According to the researchers, the night sky’s vastness and tranquillity exemplify what they term “soft fascination”, an effortless attention that assists in restoring clarity and perspective.
An expanding body of evidence suggests that experiences filled with awe trigger brain regions associated with emotional regulation, decrease cortisol levels, and foster a sense of calm.
The research team is particularly fascinated by the “Overview Effect”, a term used by astronauts to describe the profound awareness shift that occurs when viewing earth from space. By encouraging ordinary individuals to gaze at the cosmos, the researchers hope to elicit similar feelings of tranquillity, gratitude and belonging.
Insights from Sutherland
A recent event in Sutherland – renowned for its dark night skies and home to the Southern African Large Telescope – recently welcomed 14 families from diverse backgrounds for a guided astronomy weekend. Participants explored the Karoo landscape, marvelled at the rings of Saturn, observed lunar craters, and engaged in reflective conversations around a fireside.
Preliminary results from this stargazing experience were promising. Participants noted immediate relief from depressive symptoms and a boost in their overall mood. Through a combination of self-report questionnaires, reflective journaling, and focus group discussions, researchers observed a consistent trend: within 24 hours of engaging with the night sky, participants reported reduced anxiety and enhanced emotional states.
“If the effect were solely about escape or rest, we would anticipate a similar response from any weekend getaway,” Hendricks said. “But what we’re discovering is that the cosmic element, the vastness, the awe, induces a shift that’s uniquely profound. It not only calms individuals, but transforms their understanding of self and their role in the universe.”
Encouraging results, broader vision
Among the findings, participants described a newfound “mental spaciousness”, experiencing clarity of mind that allowed for more effective processing of emotions. Many reported a lasting sense of life perspective and purpose.
Dr Fish, Vice-Dean of Clinical Services and Social Impact at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, emphasises the importance of this initiative: “Through this collaboration, we are pioneering new avenues for healing that exist outside traditional clinical settings. Families are not only reconnecting with one another, but also rediscovering their bond with nature and a collective sense of humanity.”
Govender, director of the OAD, highlights the crucial role of astronomy: “This discipline has always urged us to ponder profound questions. Now, we’re learning that it can also offer us the space to contemplate these questions calmly, together, beneath the same sky.”
Importantly, the researchers underscore that stargazing serves as an effective mental health strategy in areas where access to mental health care is limited. It is a free, culturally inclusive practice requiring minimal equipment.
Looking ahead
The project expects to continue until 2029, with intentions to broaden its scope to include youth programmes, urban stargazing initiatives, and an array of psychological and physiological assessments.
Researchers plan to explore experiences across diverse environments – from city backyards to the deep skies of Sutherland – to enhance their understanding of how and why astronomy influences mental health.
The team anticipates publishing a paper detailing their preliminary findings shortly, with approvals from the Social, Behavioural and Education Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University in place.
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