HIVES- Honeybee Initiative for Veteran's Empowerment and Support
Last updated
Share PrintThe HIVES Program empowers Veterans to utilize beekeeping as a way to manage their overall well-being and mental health
Origin:
May 2019, Manchester VA Medical Center
Adoptions:
3 successful, 1 in-progress
Recent Updates
Overview
The problem
The CIH programs through the Whole Health department allow Veterans to participate in traditional mindfulness based interventions helping to improve their overall well being, however research has shown that about 60% of veterans do not participate in these programs due to lack of awareness, education or interest. The same research found that veterans would
...
The CIH programs through the Whole Health department allow Veterans to participate in traditional mindfulness based interventions helping to improve their overall well being, however research has shown that about 60% of veterans do not participate in these programs due to lack of awareness, education or interest. The same research found that veterans would like to engage in mindfulness based interventions linked with meaningful and fun activities. The therapeutic beekeeping program has shown that veterans can gain similar benefits to traditional mindfulness based interventions in a way that helps veterans who would not necessarily connect with other CIH programs.
A Quality Improvement project found that veterans experience decreased anxiety and depression, and increased wellness scores, as well as veteran feedback. Veteran’s shared that they gained skills and practice in managing the symptoms of PTSD and anxiety while feeling like part of a community when engaging in beekeeping. See more
A Quality Improvement project found that veterans experience decreased anxiety and depression, and increased wellness scores, as well as veteran feedback. Veteran’s shared that they gained skills and practice in managing the symptoms of PTSD and anxiety while feeling like part of a community when engaging in beekeeping. See more
The solution
The therapeutic beekeeping programs encourage veterans to engage in mindfulness practice and relaxation skills before and while caring for the bees. This alternative mindfulness practice draws in a different subset of veterans who do not always participate in traditional mindfulness based practice, and allows them to do so in a meaningful, enjoyable way.
... The therapeutic beekeeping programs encourage veterans to engage in mindfulness practice and relaxation skills before and while caring for the bees. This alternative mindfulness practice draws in a different subset of veterans who do not always participate in traditional mindfulness based practice, and allows them to do so in a meaningful, enjoyable way.
Providing veterans the opportunity participate in leisure activities that are enjoyable, meaningful and gives back to the community, while practicing and learning the benefits of mindfulness, yoga, breathing exercise, etc. keeps the veterans engaged and committed to the practice, the beekeeping team, and the bees, while experiencing the whole health benefits of beekeeping and mindfulness. See more
... The therapeutic beekeeping programs encourage veterans to engage in mindfulness practice and relaxation skills before and while caring for the bees. This alternative mindfulness practice draws in a different subset of veterans who do not always participate in traditional mindfulness based practice, and allows them to do so in a meaningful, enjoyable way.
Providing veterans the opportunity participate in leisure activities that are enjoyable, meaningful and gives back to the community, while practicing and learning the benefits of mindfulness, yoga, breathing exercise, etc. keeps the veterans engaged and committed to the practice, the beekeeping team, and the bees, while experiencing the whole health benefits of beekeeping and mindfulness. See more
Images
Above:
Veteran holds a frame of bees during the HIVES program at the Manchester VA Medical Center.
Videos
Above:
Voices of America shares a story about how taking care of bees at the Manchester VA Medical Center is helping Veterans stay grounded and lessen their trauma.
Above:
WMUR News shared how Veterans at the Manchester VA Medical Center are benefitting from taking care of bees.
The results
The impact of the Therapeutic Beekeeping program is measured using the EQ-5D-5L which is a standardized measure of health related quality of life from the EuroQol Group. This measure quality of life on a 5-component scale including mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. It also includes and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) w
...
The impact of the Therapeutic Beekeeping program is measured using the EQ-5D-5L which is a standardized measure of health related quality of life from the EuroQol Group. This measure quality of life on a 5-component scale including mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. It also includes and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) which measures perceived health status. This gives us a snapshot of how the veteran is doing in the moment, and can show changes over a short amount of time.
See
more
Images
Above:
Results from 2021 pre- and post- beekeeping session surveys found significant changes in sadness ((M = 0.28, SD=.667), t(283) = 6.7, p < .001), stress ((M = 0.55,SD= 0.84), t(284) = 8.01, p < .001), anxiety ((M = 0.42, SD=0.74), t(284) = 7.5, p < .001), and loneliness ((M = 0.41, SD=0.64), t(284) = 6.2, p < .001).
Above:
2022 Pre- and Post- beekeeping session surveys using the EQ-5D-5L showed significant changes in Anxiety/Depression (F(1, 81) = 11.631, p =.001) and percieved health status/VAS (F(1, 81) = 5.279, p =.024).
Links
- Greg Wortman is a veteran of the US Army. He served three tours in Iraq, and upon returning home to New Hampshire, was confronted by an immense sense of loss and hopelessness. Searching for something he couldn’t quite name, he took a chance on an unexpected hobby: beekeeping. Now an expert beekeeper, farmer, and father, this film explores Greg’s unexpected transformation and path towards discovering purpose, finding hope and a source of healing. To Become-Trailer Coming Fall 2023
Metrics
- The therapeutic beekeeping program administers the standardized EQ-5D-5L before and after each therapeutic beekeeping sessions. ANOVA was completed on the data from summer 2022 showing significant changes from before to after the sessions in Anxiety/Depression (F(1, 81) = 11.631, p =.001) and overall health/VAS (F(1, 81) = 5.279, p =024).
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Implementation
Departments
- Whole health
- Voluntary Services
- Recreation and creative arts therapy
Core Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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TOOLS |
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Files
- This manual provides all of the information needed to implement a HIVES- Therapeutic Beekeeping Program. The manual does not teach how to keep bees, but it does provide information about setting up an apiary, or finding a partner site, facilitating a therapeutic program, sustaining the program, and examples of clinical notes, mindfulness scripts, and equipment lists. HIVES Manual
Optional Resources
Files
- This manual created by the Minnesota Bee Lab provides basic information needed to keep honeybees. This resources is included for staff with limited or no knowledge of beekeeping to gain an understanding of what is involved in keeping bees before starting a program. Beekeeping in Northern Climates Manual
Support Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
TOOLS |
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Risks and mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Bee Stings |
Every participant is required to be medically cleared before participating in the program. All participants must wear full bee suits, veils, long pants and socks. If there is concern for a beehive on site there are options: partner with a local farm, bees fly up and away from the hives, and will travel up to 3 miles to forage for nectar; there will be bees on site whether or not there are hives on site. |
Contact
Comment
Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.
Email VHAMANBeekeeping@va.gov with questions about this innovation.
About
Origin story
The HIVES- Therapeutic Beekeeping Program, originated from another Recreation Therapist asking, what leisure activity could a patient with an alcohol use disorder engage in that would have similar leisure motivations (challenge, community, science, art, and competition) as beer brewing. I recommended Beekeeping and realized that not only would the Veterans
...
The HIVES- Therapeutic Beekeeping Program, originated from another Recreation Therapist asking, what leisure activity could a patient with an alcohol use disorder engage in that would have similar leisure motivations (challenge, community, science, art, and competition) as beer brewing. I recommended Beekeeping and realized that not only would the Veterans I was working with benefit from learning a new hobby, but that they could learn relaxation and coping skills through the process. As the educational beekeeping program grew, the benefits also became more obvious, and I began including mind and body practices into the educational sessions to support the relaxation and stress management outcomes the veterans were experiencing. This has now become a regular part of the program which is focused not only on education but on the therapeutic aspect of beekeeping.
Original team
Valerie Carter
Recreation Therapist
I am a VA nurse in Gainesville Fl and I have a farm,would like to start a program on my farm
I had considered moving to top bar hives before selling the farm. It just seems more sustainable, less work, less expense. You would end up with whole comb honey. No boxes and no extraction equipment unless you want it.