Spring is finally here, bringing longer days, warmer temperatures, and new growth. As a behavioral health provider, this is the perfect time for you to encourage your clients to enjoy the benefits of green space.
Green Health Benefits
Research shows that green spaces and nature can be a vital part of mental and physical health. For example, a World Health Organization report in 2016 noted that greenery and natural features can specifically help counteract the stress, lack of physical activity, and environmental hazards associated with urban living.
Experts have not yet determined exactly why we benefit from green space, but the effects are fairly obvious. Health benefits include:
Encouraging physical movement
Space to socialize (a notable benefit during the era of COVID-19, when people still need social interaction but many places have limited indoor gatherings)
Lower air and noise pollution
Exposure to beneficial microbes that can improve immune function
Reduced stimulation, leading to a more relaxed mind and increased ability to concentrate, remember, and learn
Not Just Any Green Space
Are all green spaces created equal? Not necessarily, one study in the United Kingdom, published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2018, found that biodiversity in urban green spaces was best for mental health. Study participants reported significantly more “psychological restoration” from urban parks with more biodiversity. Where mental health is concerned, parks with a variety of plants and other natural features are more beneficial than cultivated landscapes and modern amenities.
Different people also may respond to green space differently. One 2014 study found that the relationship between urban green space and health can vary by age and sex. Researchers report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health that the benefit of more green space was most apparent in early to mid-adulthood for men. Among older women, those with moderate access to green space had better mental health.
Behavioral health clinicians can use these findings to encourage green space exposure and outdoor activities in clients of all ages. Consider discussing these benefits with your clients and working with them to determine the best outdoor locations and activities for their particular mental and physical health needs.