Communing with nature can improve your mental health

Do you feel calm when you’re in a tree-filled park or remote forest? There’s a psychological reason for that.

Studies have shown that air pollution can make us unhappy.

One study even found that air pollution in urban areas could affect the cognitive development of children born outside of a city.

For instance, a 2020 study found that children who grow up far away from natural settings experience higher levels of feelings of nervousness and depression in adulthood.

“The people that reported more exposure to nature actually have better mental health than those that don’t,” says co-author Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, director of IS Global’s urban planning, environment and health initiative.

Another study published in 2015 showed that exposure to nature could reduce rumination.

The study’s abstract noted that “participants who went on a 90-min walk through a natural environment reported lower levels of rumination...compared with those who walked through an urban environment.”

Programs in Vermont and South Dakota partner with state park systems to refer patients to trails and parks.

Even watching nature videos can benefit mental health.

A small group of inmates at a maximum security prison in Oregon reported feeling calmer after watching nature videos, and some reported having an easier time regulating their emotions hours later.

As growing evidence suggests mental health problems are on the rise, it's increasingly important to get outside or travel virtually.

Doctors say just 120 minutes of outdoor time per week (that's about 17 minutes per day) could be enough feel mental health benefits.