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If you've ever noticed yourself feeling much better immediately after a long walk in a rural setting, such as on a country path or up a hill, there could be a very good reason for that. Research has indicated that getting closer to nature can help in improving mental health, with depression and anxiety cited as two mental health problems that the great outdoors can assist in relieving. Many findings in favour of ecotherapy In 2013, a study carried out by the University of Essex and reported by the mental health organisation Mind discovered that, after walking in nature, 71% of participants saw drops in their depression scores. In comparison, just 45% of participants in a control group who also walked, but in a shopping centre, saw lower depression scores; 22% even became more depressed. Over a period of five years, Mind delivered its Ecominds scheme, whereby over 12,000 people with mental health issues and the risk of developing mental health issues were introduced to ecotherapy initiatives like gardening and environmental conservation work. As a result of the scheme, 69% of people experienced substantial growth in wellbeing over the course of their participation. Furthermore, 57% now believed that their lives included more people who cared about them, while 81% increased their involvement in community activities. Furthermore, while women are more likely than men to seek help for mental health problems, Mind found ecotherapy to be effective for engaging men in wellbeing services; men comprised 56% of Ecominds participants. Here is what a bit of green can mean If you are suffering from depression or anxiety, you can take comfort that, whether or not you are currently making use of my Psychotherapy for Stress services, my rooms in the north-west London district Queens Park are close to the open space of the same name. This means that while on your way to or from a meeting with me in Queens Park, you can spend time relaxing among the local greenery. It is worth pointing out that, while 52% of GPs surveyed by Mind considered ecotherapy a valid and suitable anti-anxiety treatment and 51% considered it similarly beneficial for treating depression, 56% expressed their need to see further evidence of the benefits of ecotherapy before they could confidently recommend it. It seems, therefore, a good strategy to use this kind of therapy in combination with the services that I can provide as a Psychotherapist in Queens Park. Simply contact me, Tamar Posner, today for more information.
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