ENVIRONMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH

We are all connected to the environment, and because of this our health, including our mental health, can be affected by the environment. The depressing environmental degrading events of the climate crisis and human interaction with the earth will have negative impacts on mental health. For example, you may experience "eco-anxiety", which is about severe anxiety related to humans' relationship with the environment. Constantly hearing about bush fires, flooding, extreme weather, loss of biodiversity and other similar events can cause people to be anxious about this happening to them or others. Or people who have suffered through this, can be anxious that it will happen to them again.

However, you can't just experience negative emotions from the environment, as you can experience positive ones too! Evidence continues to grow that suggests that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits such as lower levels of stress, reduced symptomology for depression and anxiety, and improved cognition (Pearson and Craig, 2014).

Therefore, we need to work on conserving and protecting this planet. A healthier and thriving planet, will lead to better mental health for all. The climate crisis impacts us all in more ways than we realise. Environmentally. Socially. Economically. Mentally. And so many other ways. We must do what we can before further suffering has to occur.

Nature provide us with great benefits some are more visible like food, shelter, air, water and some are less visible benefits. Surrounded by nature or just watching a picture or a movie of nature reduces stress , anger , fear and gives a pleasant feeling. Research done in many hospitals, offices, and schools have found that even a simple plant in a room can have a major impact on stress and anxiety. 

 Exposure to the natural world would help humans live happier, healthier lives. But not everyone is blessed to reap these benefits. Urbanization , decline in human contact with nature and increased screen time, amongst other factors, means that we spend the majority of our time indoors. It has become even more crucial to create opportunities for nature experience.

 Nature has given us everything in abundance but we human have exploited for our own pleasure and that’s why today we all are facing the heat. A clean and healthy environment is essential for human to feel positive.

Ecotherapy :

Or green care or nature based interventions. This is a therapeutic approach that includes participating in structured outdoor activities such as gardening, food growing, nature walk and farming conservation work. 

All these proved to be extremely beneficial for improving mental health of the people. Ecotherapy shows that the environment, without doubt, is part of the foundation of our wellbeing. 

Experiencing nature has allowed us to rediscover our ties to both people and places , it helps us meet our need for connection and identity, ultimately giving our lives an enhanced sense of meaning. We are not separate from nature, but are an integral part of it.

Forest Therapy :

It is yet another approach that contributes to improved emotional and cognitive health. This experience can be through a forest activity program and by experiencing the social and physical conditions of the forest environment and the therapeutic elements of the forest. 

Visiting or viewing a forest scene has a positive effect on psychological healing and well-being in terms of recovering from stress, improving concentration and productivity, improving the psychological state, particularly for people from urban environments.

Protecting Green spaces:

From both climate and biodiversity perspectives, the protection of existing green spaces should be prioritized and evidence suggests these spaces also provide the largest health benefits.