A Temple graduate student is exploring how therapeutic beekeeping may help older adults build confidence, connection and emotional wellness.

Dressed in protective suits and surrounded by the steady hum of thousands of bees, a group of older adults in South Philadelphia are discovering an unexpected tool for improving mental health: beekeeping. 

At the center of the experience is Meghan Robertson, a Temple University doctoral student in occupational therapy in Temple’s Barnett College of Public Health who is slated to graduate in June 2026. 

For her capstone project, Robertson partnered with Half Mad Honey to study whether beekeeping and other nature-based experiences could help improve emotional wellness, mindfulness and social connection among older adults. While she is still analyzing the study’s findings, Robertson said the research was inspired by a growing interest in alternative approaches to mental health support. 

“Older adults are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health challenges due to major life transitions, loneliness and changes in daily routine,” Robertson said. “There’s already research showing nature-based activities like gardening and forest walking can improve mental health, but there’s very little research on beekeeping. We wanted to explore what happens when you combine nature, mindfulness and hands-on learning in this way.” 

The project also challenges common misconceptions about where beekeeping can happen and who can participate in it. 

“A lot of people think beekeeping only happens on farms or in rural areas, but this work shows it can happen in urban communities, too,” said Amelia Mraz, CLA ’16, CPH ’23, founder of Half Mad Honey. 

Susan Connor, doctoral capstone coordinator and associate professor of instruction in Temple’s occupational therapy program, said the project reflects a growing shift toward more immersive and experience-driven approaches to mental health support.  

“As people age, many of their roles begin to change through retirement, grief or isolation,” Connor said. “Projects like this help people stay active, build community and discover new ways to engage with the world around them.”  

The six-week study brought participants to Half Mad Honey’s apiary in South Philadelphia, where they learned the fundamentals of beekeeping, from bee biology and hive structure to hands-on hive interaction and mindfulness exercises designed to help participants stay present and engaged.  

After weeks of working alongside the hives, participants began describing noticeable changes in their confidence, focus and comfort levels around the bees. 

“One participant shared that they were initially terrified of bees,” Robertson said. “But after experiencing the hive, they said, ‘If I can do that, I can do anything.’ It brought out a more adventurous and confident side of them.” 

For Mraz, who first discovered beekeeping while taking an elective course at Temple’s Ambler Campus as an undergraduate student, the work is deeply personal. She said the practice became an important outlet while navigating her own struggles with anxiety and depression.  

“Beekeeping ended up being a therapeutic practice for me,” Mraz said. “Getting out in nature, doing something sensory-based and connecting with other people helped improve my mental health. That experience inspired me to create Half Mad Honey and help others experience that same connection.”  

Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Half Mad Honey focuses on nature workshops, beekeeping education and therapeutic programming centered around mindfulness and community connection. The organization is now working to expand therapeutic beekeeping programs into recovery centers and additional community spaces.  

Beyond mental health, the work also helps educate participants about pollinators, environmental sustainability, and the critical role bees play in ecosystems and food production. 

For Robertson, the project represents more than research. She hopes the experience encourages broader conversations around alternative approaches to mental health support while also inspiring other Temple students to pursue innovative research opportunities of their own. 

“I hope this opens another avenue for mental health treatment and increases awareness of the impact bees and beekeeping can have, not only on our environment, but on our mental health as well,” Robertson said. 

Robertson’s work on the project was supported by a Visionary Scholar award from Temple’s Barnett College of Public Health. The award is funded through the generosity of the David R. Devereaux, FOX ’86, Visionary Research Fund, the Sandy Schinfeld Endowment for Public Health and the Gross Scholarship Fund.

Connor said projects like Robertson’s not only expand conversations around mental health support, but also encourage students to pursue creative, community-centered research opportunities. 

“I always tell students not to be afraid to follow what interests them,” Connor said. “If you think something is meaningful or interesting, chances are other people will too.”