Join our first Astronomy for Mental Health facilitator training session online
Stand beneath a clear night sky and something often shifts. Worries can feel a little smaller, the mind becomes quieter, and there is space to breathe. That experience lies at the heart of the Astronomy for Mental Health initiative. On 14 August, we invite anyone interested in sharing these moments with others to join our live online facilitator training.
Background
The training is part of the IAU OAD Astronomy for Mental Health flagship that aims to leverage the inspirational power of astronomy to enhance well-being. By utilising various methods within astronomy, such as stargazing and educational initiatives, the project seeks to create settings for self-exploration and reflection, fostering a profound sense of awe and rejuvenation. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and a focus on accessibility, the initiative promotes cost-effective and culturally relevant astronomy activities. These activities are designed to be easily understandable and memorable, providing an inclusive approach to mental health improvement.
Through the flagship, the OAD engages with mental health professionals and conducts reviews of psychological literature. This ensures that the tools and methods used are grounded in robust psychological practices. Global distribution and community engagement are key components, with resources and training offered to ensure broad and impactful implementation.
Facilitator Training
Our Astronomy for Mental Health Facilitator training is open to a wide range of people. You may work in mental health, lead community groups, teach, volunteer, or simply have a passion for the night sky and a desire to create meaningful experiences for others. No clinical background or telescope is required.
During the session, you will learn how to facilitate safe, simple, and reflective astronomy-based activities. We will explore the principles that underpin the approach, discuss how experiences of the night sky may support calm, perspective, and well-being, and cover the boundaries that help keep both facilitators and participants safe. You will also experience the activities yourself, including a five-senses grounding exercise, a reflection that places difficult thoughts within the vastness of the night sky, and the well-known Pale Blue Dot reflection.
The training is practical, interactive, and welcoming. By the end of the session, you will have a clear facilitation framework, ready-to-use scripts, and the confidence to lead a short reflective activity within your own setting. The approach draws on principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and emerging research on awe and well-being.
This training is intended to equip individuals with practical facilitation skills but is not meant as a clinical intervention training. Participation does not confer a professional qualification, certification, or authority to practice as a mental health professional or representative of the IAU OAD.
Details
Trainer: Dominic Vertue, background in social work and humanitarian assistance with a master’s in medical social work
Date: 14 August, 12:00 (UTC)
Where: Online (Zoom)