This Spring, Consider the Link Between Green Space and Mental Health

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
An increasing body of 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 2016-17 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
A Danish study published in 2019 suggests that, among those with behavioral health disorders, the benefits of green space may be greatest for individuals with mood disorders, depression, neurotic behavior, and stress-related concerns.
In fact, the study also found that children who grew up with the least exposure to green space had up to 55 percent higher risk of developing a psychiatric disorder. This was independent of other known risk factors.
Not Just Any Green Space
But are all green spaces created equal? Not necessarily, some research suggests.
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.
Other research has found that green space access can have specific benefits for children. In the Journal of Pediatric Nursing in 2017, researchers reported that access to green space was associated with better health and cognitive development for children. Green space access was linked to attention and memory restoration, stress moderation, improved behaviors, and even higher standardized test scores.
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.
With behavioral health services in greater demand than ever, you need to strike the right balance between improving client outcomes, keeping your practice profitable, and staying compliant with regulatory bodies. BestNotes EHR solutions, built and customized specifically for behavioral health clinicians, helps you accomplish all three. Contact us to learn more about how our solutions can help your practice.