The University of the Azores will host an international health delegation from Belgium between March 16 and 20, 2026, as part of a program that blends science, nature, and therapeutic innovation. The initiative, titled “Nature Therapies and Health Tourism,” will welcome professionals and patients from AZ Monica Hospital in Antwerp through the European mobility program Erasmus+.

The visiting group includes neurologists and neuropsychologists accompanying 18 patients who are undergoing treatment for acquired brain injuries. During their stay in the Azores—specifically on São Miguel Island—participants will take part in a structured program designed to explore how immersion in natural environments can influence psychological and physiological well-being.

Organized as part of the community outreach initiatives of the Social Work program at the university, the project brings together health professionals, researchers, and patients to test emerging therapeutic approaches rooted in the natural landscape of the islands.

According to organizers, the weeklong program includes a series of nature-based therapies such as Forest Mind and Forest Bathing—also known as shinrin-yoku—along with “blue mind” ocean therapy and mindfulness practices. Three Forest Mind sessions will take place in natural settings across São Miguel, complemented by academic discussions on Nature-Based Solutions and guided visits to some of the island’s most emblematic landscapes.

Researchers will evaluate the scientific impact of these experiences on the participants’ psychophysiological well-being, exploring how contact with forests, coastlines, and volcanic landscapes may support cognitive recovery and emotional balance.

The initiative also aims to strengthen the Azores’ growing reputation as a destination for health and wellness tourism, where natural environments become part of therapeutic strategies. Organizers say the program demonstrates how São Miguel’s landscapes can be integrated into sustainable approaches to mental health, rehabilitation, and quality of life.

A notable aspect of the project is its academic leadership within the university’s Social Work program, particularly through professor and researcher Eduardo Marques, a specialist in eco-social social work. The initiative highlights the role of clinical social work in developing therapeutic responses that combine mental health care, community participation, and meaningful engagement with nature.

By linking health care, research, and the islands’ natural heritage, organizers hope to show how social work can serve as an agent of social innovation—promoting inclusion, well-being, and sustainable territorial development.

The program will officially open on March 16 at 10 a.m. in Amphitheater VIII at the University of the Azores. The inaugural session will include welcoming remarks, poetry readings, mindfulness activities in the university garden, and a coffee reception.

A welcome concert will follow, featuring musician and wellness facilitator Neo One Eon, who lives and works at the Laughing Orchard retreat center in Furnas. His work focuses on personal development, nature-based retreats, and creative practices that cultivate well-being and deepen connections with the natural world.

In Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros, director.

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.