Today is Blog Action Day, with almost 15,000 bloggers committed to writing about the same topic - the environment. For my contribution I’ve collected some articles that discuss different links between the environment and mental health. These articles are a timely reminder to me that every aspect of my environment impacts my state of mind - with powerful implications. I hope you also find some helpful food for thought.

A Little Therapy from Nature
“It’s not just about creating an aesthetically beautiful, productive, harmonic space…we all must face ourselves in this environment and that is definitely therapeutic. My dream is not only for a sustainable planet - it’s for a happy population.”

How Gardening Could Cure Depression
“Getting dirty might help lift our spirits, according to a new study which reveals that common soil bacteria could act like antidepressant drugs.”

Green Peace of Mind
“The outdoors as a cure has been overlooked…because “psychologists, like everyone else, have been stuck in their offices.”

What on Earth is Ecotherapy?
(Previous Post)
“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.”

Creating Healthy Communities, Healthy Homes, Healthy People
“Mounting evidence suggests physical and mental health problems relate to the built environment, including human-modified places such as homes, schools, workplaces, parks, industrial areas, farms, roads and highways…the sparse research on sustainable communities suggests that diligent planning is needed to create an environment that is conducive to the mental and physical well-being of humans as well as the natural environment.”

The Healing Qualities of Nature
“Nature can become a place of refuge for difficult times. When life stresses start closing in, one can escape to the wilderness physically or mentally. Being in nature helps to clear one’s head of life’s demands and disruptive thoughts. This clarity of thought may lead to finding answers to life’s questions and discovering insights to life problems.”