We All Need More Green in our Mental Diet
18September

We All Need More Green in our Mental Diet

Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Stress Relief

We have all heard of depression; the National Institute of Mental Health reports that about one in four people (57.7 million people) are diagnosed every year.

There are many differential mental health diseases, and even depression is an umbrella term for so many different kinds, or even as an aspect of a larger disorder. As there are numerous aspects to it, the different kinds of treatment are also abundant. There are commercials every day advertising medications, and almost everyone has an opinion. Actor Tom Cruise said that a depressed person only needs vitamins. Electroconclusive therapy (ECT) is supported by some doctors who say that inducing seizures in their patients will help “restart” their central nervous system. As for myself, my health care provider told me to start taking walks, and the problem would soon resolve itself. (It didn’t.)

Yet another study is being done. In an article on motherboard.com, Dr. Mathew White from the University of Exeter suggests that one treatment for depression could be simply going back to nature.

“Mental health benefits of green space are not only immediate, but sustainable over long periods of time,” he said. “We found that when people move to a greener urban area, their mental health improves straightaway, and that improvement endures, at least for the three years that we were able to follow people” (Public Green Space is a Win for Mental Health, motherboard. com).

Could it really be that simple?

While Dr. White doesn’t insist that it is a complete cure, he is firm in his belief it is a start, a way to soothe the mind and uplift the soul, while working toward that never-ending goal of happiness.

Nor is he the only one that sees green parks, green hills, and just green nature as a beneficial thing. An article from the University of Washington suggests,

"The brain, complex and vulnerable, is the only organ that undergoes substantial maturation after birth. This process is shaped in part by response to stimuli in our surroundings (including both negative and positive conditions), and continues throughout our lives. Substantial research shows that natural scenes evoke positive emotions, facilitate cognitive functioning, and promote recovery from mental fatigue for people who are in good mental health. The experience of nature can also provide respite for those who experience short-term and chronic mental illness (washington.edu)."

Millions in our country suffer from all levels of depression and it is impossible to say which treatment is the absolute answer. While urban or wilderness greenness may not solve all issues of sadness, enjoying a moment or two in nature could start one on the path to complete wellness.