Ecotherapy is a way to improve mental health, by being active outdoors and in a green environment.

According to research published last month by Mind, ecotherapy should become a recognized treatment option for people with mental health problems. Their report, “Ecotherapy: the green agenda for mental health”, is the first study commissioned to look at the benefits of “green exercise” on depression. (Mind is the National Association for Mental Health, the leading charity in England and Wales devoted to mental health.)

Its results are very interesting, although not completely surprising. Researchers from the University of Essex compared the effects of a 30 minute walk in a country park with the same amount of time in an indoor shopping centre.

• 71 per cent reported decreased feelings of depression after the walk in the park. 22 per cent reported an increase after walking in the shopping centre and only 45 per cent experienced a decrease.
• 71 per cent felt less tense after walking in the park, while 50 per cent felt more tense after walking in the shopping centre.
• 90 per cent claimed increased self esteem after the walk in the park; 44 per cent experienced lower self esteem after the shopping centre walk.
• 88 per cent reported an improved mood after the walk in the park. This compares with 44.5 per cent for the shopping centre, while another 44.5% per cent experienced lower mood.

Clearly walking in a park has health benefits, while there is a good chance that going shopping will worsen your state of mind.

There goes my article on retail therapy!

A second study conducted by the University surveyed 108 people with mental illnesses about their experience of ecotherapy. 94% said green activities had helped with their depression, and 90% said the combination of nature and exercise had the greatest effect. That’s an enormous positive response!

According to the report there are four main reasons why green exercise is beneficial:

• Natural and social connections: watching wildlife, evoking good memories, spiritual feelings
• Sensory stimulation: colors and sounds, fresh air, enjoyment, escape from pollution, contrasts with urban life, being exposed to the weather
• Activity: using manual skills, physically challenging activities such as digging or cycling
• Escape from modern life: time to think and reflect, clear the head, get away from pressures and stress.

Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:

“Mind sees ecotherapy as an important part of the future for mental health. It’s a credible, clinically-valid treatment option and needs to be prescribed by GPs, especially when for many people access to treatments other than antidepressants is extremely limited. We’re not saying that ecotherapy can replace drugs but that the debate needs to be broadened.”

What do you think?

Tags: dealing with depression, help for depression, living with depression, mental health, overcoming depression, self-help, someone with depression