Astronomy for Mental Health Fund

Mission: Invest in, promote, and support the use of astronomy to improve mental health and well-being

Goals:

  • Funding: provide seed funding to facilitators of wellness programs, mental health practitioners, astronomy outreach professionals, science communicators, and educators
  • Mentorship and knowledge exchange: collaborate with psychologists and mental health professionals to mentor and support grantees
  • Community: connect with peers and broader stakeholder groups for long-term support and sustainability

Investing thesis:

The fund will invest in interventions that integrate astronomy-based practices into non-clinical settings that support well-being. Funding requests, deployed through a grants programme, can cover costs of training, upskilling, and implementation.

Minimum requirements

  • Must deploy astronomy in non-clinical settings to support well-being
  • Must have completed the free, online course on Astronomy for Mental Health
  • Must focus on education and mental health promotion rather than psychotherapy
  • Must be based in and primarily work in the target location (to be defined by the Fund)
  • No formal qualification or knowledge required in astronomy

Investment process:

Funding will be given through a competitive grants program and associated support mechanisms coordinated by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development. The OAD has 14 years of experience in conducting international calls for proposals, coordinating the application and evaluation phases, disbursing more than 1.4 Million Euros in grants, managing funded projects, and measuring impact. The OAD, on behalf of the fund, will execute a grant and support program for the target region.

Evidence-based:

Astronomy offers profound psychological and social benefits that extend far beyond the scientific. Observing the vastness of the universe can evoke a sense of awe – a powerful emotion linked to reduced stress, greater well-being, and increased prosocial behavior. This cosmic perspective often leads to a feeling of connectedness, reminding individuals of their place in a larger whole and fostering empathy and humility. Stargazing and sky observation can also cultivate mindfulness, encouraging people to slow down, breathe, and be present in the moment. Importantly, astronomy supports meaning-making, helping individuals process life experiences by placing them within a broader narrative of time and existence. As a shared human curiosity, it also promotes social cohesion, inviting communities to come together under the same sky.

Looking at the night sky provides a powerful form of visual and emotional grounding, where the vastness of the cosmos evokes awe, perspective, and a sense of safety. Programs inspired by this idea (IAU–OAD, 2022; Dao, 2016) show that simply engaging with the stars can reduce stress, elevate mood, and foster connection. Similarly, early explorations are being made into the role of night-sky connectedness in wellbeing. Whilst there is a growing interest in people’s relationship with the natural world, much of the literature has focused on daytime behaviour. Far less research has examined the importance of human relationships with natural environments at night, and particularly with the night sky. To address this gap, researchers recently designed and validated the Night Sky Connectedness Index (NSCI) — a 12-item scale with two subscales: Connection to and Protection of the night sky (Barnes et al., 2024). Findings show that stronger night-sky connectedness is positively associated with mental health and happiness, while people in light-polluted areas report feeling less connected and less motivated to protect the night sky. The NSCI may therefore be useful for studying pro-environmental behaviour, light-pollution awareness, and strategies to restore the human relationship with the stars (Barnes et al., 2024).

In addition, some pilot initiatives are experimenting with immersive experiences, such as planetarium-based mindfulness sessions. In these settings, participants are guided through deep breathing and sensory awareness exercises beneath simulated starscapes. Although still at an exploratory stage, the combination of the dome environment,a>szd slow celestial motion, and gentle narration appears to create a calming atmosphere that may help reduce anxiety and support emotional regulation (Tanaka et al., 2025).

Management:

The fund will be managed by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, overseen by a dedicated oversight committee.

For queries about partnerships or more information on the fund, please contact mentalhealth@astro4dev.org.