Effect of the Outdoors on Mental Health

Effect of the Outdoors on Mental HealthTopic Mental HealthBig IdeasOverviewMental health disorders are known to strickle most people at some point in their lives (Government Office of Science London 2008, as cited in Barton 2010). Indeed, rates of depression and some other mental illnesses (e.g. anxiety, etc.) are predicted to increase in the future (Maller et al. 2005, as cited in DFH 2008). Over the because(prenominal) several decades, research has shown that contact with nature aids mental health and restoration. Mental health improvements resulting from exposure to congenital environments include increased collateral emotions and mood, change magnitude negative emotions and stress, and increased mental balance, energy, and revitalization.Systematic literature reviews conducted in the past five years continue to show a consistent beneficial relationship between exposure to one thousand, natural environments and mental health. Environmental contexts examined in these st udies alter from urban to rural, and compared natural and synthetic environments. Exposure to natural environments might include exercise in natural environments, being indoors a natural place, or even looking at a view of trees from a window. For example, in a infirmary, views of nature are associated with a faster recovery, decreased painkiller use, shorter hospital stays and fewer postoperative complications (Dijkstra 2006). Outdoor space and views at a workplace is associated with decreased stress (Singhal, Paney and Pandy 2013). Regular interaction with nature is connected to extensive lifespan and decreased risk of mental health illnesses in seniors living in megacities (Takano 2002, as cited in Barton 2010).There is also mixed evidence that exercising out-of-doors in natural environments could have mental and physiologic benefits above and beyond exercising indoors. Green exercise for as little as 5 minutes has been shown to improve self-esteem and mood (Barton 2010). T here is some evidence that people enjoy exercising outdoor(a)s more than indoors, and have a great intention to repeat the activity, and improvement in social connections (Coon et al 2011). If exercising alfresco is more likely to be maintained in the long term, then motivating people to be active outdoors (e.g. gardening, walking, and biking) could be an important means of staying active.If exposure to outdoor green spaces has immediate positive mental health outcomes, then inaccessibility to such spaces could promote health inequalities. Given the associations between mental health and proximity to green spaces, there is an inherent opportunity for preparedness and designing both public and private open space.What the Research SaysThings for Certain (or semi-Certain)Exposure to green outdoor spaces improves mental health. display casesBarton and Pretty, 2010 The article concluded that exposure to green has positive health encroachments.Coon et. Al, 2011, 1762 Experimental res earch has demonstrated that exposure to views of nature can improve peoples health and wellbeing by providing restoration from stress and mental fatigue,12Design for Health, 2007, 1 A strong research base has continued to demonstrate how direct contact with nature (water, trees, bushes, flowers, and other vegetation, whether cultivated or wild) leads to increased mental health and psychological development.Lee, A.C.K., R. Maheswaran, 2010, 212 bodily and psychological benefits have been linked to green spaces finished their purported effects on physiological activity.7 It also improves mental functioning, mental health and wellbeing16 22 and may have long-lasting psychological benefits.23 Benefits on longevity have also been describe.24Even sightly a view of nature is beneficial to mental health.ExamplesDesign for Health, 2007 For example, in a hospital context views of nature are associated with a faster recovery, decreased painkiller use, shorter hospital stays and fewer pos t-operative complications. Since older persons use hospitals more, views of nature are especially relevant to this population.Dijkstra, 2006 Sunlight and views of nature out the window had positive effects on patients mental and physical health. Having a sunny window with a view of nature may have a positive impact on aging patients staying at healthcare facilities. It should be noted that some varied effects happened for patients with dementia or depression.Singhal, Paney and Pandy, 2013 Green space surrounding a work environment reduces stress and benefits mental health. This has been demonstrated consistently in the literature, and anecdotally in this article.Things up in the AirGeneral significance for public health.ExampleBowler, 2012 Overall, the studies are suggestive that natural environments may have direct and positive impacts on well-being, but support the need for investment in further research on this question to understand the general significance for public health.If greater biodiversity in nature increases mental health benefits.ExampleDean, van Dooren and Weinstein, 2011, 878-879 Based upon this review, we identify only one original research paper that directly investigated the link between biodiversity per se and mental health allowing the authors to specifically argue that their results indicate that roaring management of urban green spaces should emphasize biological complexity to enhance human well-being in addition to biodiversity conservation (33, p. 390).How different user groups, subcultures and types of outdoor environments differ in impact.ExampleDesign for Health, 2007 more limited knowledge on aspects of nature most relevant, maintenance importance, and different user groups/subcultures. Varied definitions and types of outdoor space make it difficult to compare studies.Whether there is a causal relationship between green space and mental health.ExampleLee, 2010, 212 Most studies reported findings that generally supported the view that green space have a beneficial health effect. Establishing a causal relationship is difficult, as the relationship is complex. simple urban interventions may therefore fail to address the underlying determinants of urban health that are not remediable by landscape redesign.If exercising outdoors (or with a view of nature) has mental and physical benefits above and beyond exercising indoors.ExamplesCoon et al., 2011 found exercising outdoors did have greater mental and physical benefits above and beyond exercising indoors, whereas Lee 2010 found mixed results at best.ImplicationsStandardsMental health benefits can come from very little exposure to natural spaces. Just a glimpse of green will do.ExampleDesign for Health, 2007, 5 Working thresholds for HIA Provide views of green spaces, with canopy trees, from all buildings. These can be trees at the street level or, for upper-level situations, views to parklands, etc. Tree densities with greater than 22 trees per acre have a pos itive effect in terms of mien and sense of safety in a population of low-income, public housing residents (Kuo et al., 1998, 45). This is not a very high density of trees.As little as 5-minutes of activity outside is enough for mental health improvements.ExampleBarton and Pretty, 2010 A quantifiable exposure to green was set as a threshold. As a result, greatest changes come from 5 min of activity, and thus suggest these psychological measures are immediately increased by green exercise.InsightsExercising outdoors may be easier to stick to than exercising indoors.ExampleCoon et. Al, 2011, 1762 It might be argued that physical activity in health club gyms is a viable alternate(a) to outdoor exercise, but the failure to persevere with indoor exercise initiatives on a long-term basis is well recognized. For example, 40-50% of individuals terminate gym membership within a year of joining.19 Anecdotal evidence suggests that long-term adherence to exercise initiatives conducted in outdo or natural environments or urban green spaces may be superior to that of indoor exercise interventions.20Urban Chinese migrants have worse mental health than non-migrants.ExampleLin et al., 2011 Rural migrants in Chinas cities put through more discrimination and this discrimination is connected to worse mental health.SourcesJo Barton and Jules Pretty, What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for ImprovingMental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis, Environmental Science and Technology, 2010 May1544(10)3947-55. inside 10.1021/es903183r.Bowler, Diana E., et al. A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health ofexposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health 10.1 (2010) 456.Coon, J. Thompson, K. Boddy, K. Stein, R. Whear, J. Barton, and M.H. Depledge. 2011. Does alive(p) in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments Have a Greater Effect onPhysical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic check up on.Environmental Science and T echnology 451761-1772. Accessed February 20, 2014. doi 10.1021/es102947t.Dean, Julie, Kate van Dooren, Philip Weinstein. 2011. Does biodiversity improve mental healthin urban settings? Medical Hypotheses 76 877-880. Accessed February 20, 2014. doi10.1016/j.mehy.2011.02.040.Design for Health. 2007. Key Questions Mental Health. Version 2.0. www.designforhealth.netDijkstra, Karin, Marcel Pieterse, and Ad Pruyn. 2006. Physical environmental stimuli that turnhealthcare facilities into healing environments through psychologically mediated effectssystematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 56 (2) 166-181. Accessed February 20,2014. doi 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03990.xLee, A.C.K., R. Maheswaran. 2010. The Health Benefits of Urban Green Space A Review of theEvidence. Journal of Public Health 33(2) 212-222. Accessed February 21, 2014. doi10.1093/pubmed/fdq068.Lin, Danhua, Xiaoming Li, Bo Wang, Yan Hong, Xiaoyi Fang, Xiong Qin, and Bonita Stanton. 2011.Discrimination, Perceived Social Inequ ity, and Mental Health Among Rural-to-UrbanMigrants in China. Community Mental Health Journal 47171-180. Accessed February 21,2014. doi10.1007/s10597-009-9278-4.Singhal, Vijai, Deep Pandey and Pushp Deep Pandey. 2013. Workplace Green Space for Healthand Happiness. Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, Jaipur India.