Why nature is good for your mental health

Back in the day, doctors would send patients with anxiety and depression into the mountains because the fresh air would do them good. Though they did not have the research to back it up, they knew that nature was good for our mental health. Today, there is good evidence for these claims and clinicians have developed different types of “nature therapy”, also known as ecotherapy, which harness the healing power of nature. Henry David Thoreau once said “We need the tonic of wildness…We can never have enough of nature.” And indeed, I have found that to be true. The more time I spend out in the wilderness, the more I want. Perhaps after watching this video, you’ll feel the same way.

Sources:
https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr01/greengood
https://www.wired.com/2010/08/the-psychology-of-nature/
https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/1948/nature-and-environment-the-psychology-of-its-benefits-and-its-protection
https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/positive-effects-of-nature/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psy-curious/201603/the-restorative-effect-nature
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Psychology_of_natural_scenes
http://time.com/4881665/green-spaces-nature-happiness/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19121124
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5451986/
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-10-456
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2014.994224?journalCode=rpos20
https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=fac_pubs
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306526247_A_Comparative_Study_of_Human_Well-Being_Indicators_Across_Three_Puget_Sound_Regions
http://www.acarindex.com/dosyalar/makale/acarindex-1431807096.PDF
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-24184-003
https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/49376/1/Mourato_Happiness_greater_natural_2013.pdf
https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2010_RyanWeinstenEtAl_JEVP.pdf
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/105382591003300203
https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1014&context=pes_synthesis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27493670
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5153451/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/neurotransmissions
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/neuroyoutube
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neurotransmissions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurotransmissions
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/u/neuroyoutube/
Website: http://www.neurotransmissions.science
Snapchat: neuroyoutube

This episode is supported by our wonderful Patreon Producers:
Ryan M. Shaver
Carrie McKenzie
Corvi

You three are the best! You’re like fresh, clean sheets, right out of the dryer.

And thanks to our other supportive Patrons, including:
Marcelo Kenji
Brian McComb
Gary
Rick Harold
Mary Smith
Jareth Arnold
Linda L Schubert
Raymond Chin
Ktb
City Beautiful
Up and Atom
Memming Park
Alex Dainis
Susan Jones
Eric Earley
Dr. Ali Mattu
Linh Vandermar
Stephen Smith
Noah McCann
Marcel Ward
Ilsa Jerome

Neuro Transmissions is a channel on a mission to bring neuroscience to everyone. It’s not rocket surgery, it’s brain science! Subscribe for new brain videos every other Sunday!

Got a question for us to answer? Let us know in the comments – we’d love to explore more of your questions! Share, like, and subscribe for more videos to come! Over and out.

***Credits***

The following videos were used under Creative Commons:

Footage from The Office S5E8 and Mission Impossible were used for nonprofit educational purposes and were intended to benefit the public by teaching scientific concepts through relatable content. Therefore, they fall under fair use.

#nature #outdoors #mental health