Green Spaces: A Prescription for Urban Mental Wellness

More people are living in cities now than ever before. However, the urban lifestyle can often come at the detriment of mental health, brought on by the rapid, often chaotic, and stressful nature of the metropolis and everyday work-life. Today, we see mental health conditions soaring and become one of the main contributors to the global disease burden. It is forecasted that mental health problems will become the leading contributor to mortality and morbidity by 2023 (Mental Health Foundation, n.d). With such a high demand for care, the issue of mental health cannot and has not yet been adequately addressed, and availability for mental health treatment is consistently limited.

Enter ‘greenspace’ – a term for maintained or unmaintained environmental areas, ranging from nature reserves to urban parks. In urban areas in particular, these greenspaces are designated havens holding recreational and aesthetic value (Barton & Rogerson 2017).

Figure 1: Simple example of a public green space in Essen, used for communal gathering (Tack, J. 2021)

The Green Haven amidst Urbanisation

Amidst the rapid global urbanisation, access to greenspaces has dwindled. However, convincing evidence has shown a direct correlation between neighbourhood greenspaces and mental health (Van den Berg et al., 2010). Urban residents living in proximity to pockets of greenspace, exhibit lower mental distress, depression, reduced anxiety, and an overall, increased wellbeing. Between residents in highly green and those in less green settings, studies consistently display a stark contrast in the prevalence of disease even after accounting for socioeconomic status (Barton & Rogerson 2017). The results are consistent amongst diverse range of cultures and age groups with access to greenspaces. These spaces act as buffer zones to life stresses and promote better mental health outcomes. (Van den Ber et al., 2007)

Green Therapy and Income-Related Health Equality

The appeal of greenspaces might be a romanticised view for some, but it supports individuals in adapting to their surroundings and aids in achieving optimum functioning and mental health (Van den Berg et al., 2007). Greenspace is often associated with lower income-related health inequality, offering respite to those experiencing high negative moods as they are drawn to natural areas as their choice for sanctuary (Maas et al., 2009). These spaces are often public, making them inclusive and ensuring mental health benefits are offered to diverse populations, no matter their socio-economic status.

Nature’s Influence

The intrinsic connection between greenspaces and mental health that needs be at the forefront of our approach to urban planning as designers and ambassadors to the people. Incorporating more greenspaces into urban settings, particularly in socioeconomically challenged areas, provides a potentially solution for bridging the gap in mental health outcomes (Maas et al., 2009). Greenspaces act as communal retreats, providing solace and promoting well-being, making it a fundamental component in achieving equitable mental health care (van den Berg et al., 2010). As vital contributors to the overall community health, it is crucial to advocate for their preservation and augmentation in our increasingly urbanised world (Maas et al., 2009).

‘Green Exercise’

Recent findings from a summary report on the GREENHEALTH project which analysed urban green space in relation to human health, emphasise and validate the inherent link between green spaces and mental wellbeing, with particular focus on the positive impacts ‘green exercise’ (James Hutton Institute et al., 2014) This concept showcases the benefits of doing physical activity within natural environments, such as forests and woods. These individuals are at significantly lower risks of poor mental health (Mitchell, 2013).

More so than in gymnasiums or urban street settings, regular physical activity in natural environments has proved itself as a contributing factor in protecting individuals from poor mental health (Mitchell, 2013). Greenspace not only help to increase physical health, but they also boost psychological resilience and emotional regulation (James Hutton Institute et al., 2014).

Therapeutic Role of Greenspaces in Mental Health

Greenspaces can offer therapeutic landscapes for a variety of vulnerable groups, such individuals with dementia, stressed employees, and others (Barton & Rogerson 2017). Incorporating structured interventions, like wilderness therapy, ecotherapy, and nature-based arts into these spaces enables psychological and behavioural improvements, increasing self-esteem, empowerment, and emotional regulation (James Hutton Institute et al., 2014).

Initiatives leveraging natural environments help to foster community engagement, social inclusion, and a sense of belonging, all which contribute to increased resilience against mental health issues (James Hutton Institute et al., 2014).

Understanding Greenspace Mechanisms and Conclusion

As urban landscapes evolve and cities continuously reshape, the value of greenspaces in relation to mental well-being becomes increasingly imperative. As designers, we need understand and take advantage of nature’s potential to both promote mental wellbeing. It is crucial to ensure everyone has access to a diverse range of greenspaces, and that these are tailored to increase wellbeing (James Hutton Institute et al., 2014). In the realm of urban planning, prioritising greenspaces stands as a testament to the commitment toward nurturing healthier and happier urban populations.

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References

Barton, J., & Rogerson, M. (2017). The importance of greenspace for mental health. BJPsych international, 14(4), 79–81. https://doi.org/10.1192/s2056474000002051

James Hutton Institute, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Heriot Watt University, and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (2014). The contribution of green and open space in public health and wellbeing: Environment and Human Health. Available at: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/projects/GreenHealth-InformationNote7-Contribution-of-green-and-open-space-in-public-health-and-wellbeing.pdf

Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., De Vries, S., et al. (2009) Morbidity is related to a green living environment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 63, 967–973

Mental Health Foundation (no date) The cost of diagnosed mental health conditions: Statistics, Mental Health Foundation.Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/mental-health-statistics/cost-diagnosed-mental-health-conditions-statistics#:~:text=Mental%20health%20problems%20are%20one,the%20overall%20disease%20burden%20worldwide.&text=Untreated%20mental%20health%20problems%20account,of%20mortality%20and%20morbidity%20globally. (Accessed: 12 November 2023).

Mitchell, R. (2013) Is physical activity in natural environments better for mental health than physical activity in other environments? Social Science and Medicine, 91, 130–134.

Tack, J. (2021) Crowds fill a park in Essen, Germany, at a summer music festival in 2013, News Scientist. Essen. Available at: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933270-800-green-spaces-arent-just-for-nature-they-boost-our-mental-health-too/ (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

Van den Berg, A. E., Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., et al. 2010, Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health, Social Science and Medicine, vol. 70, pp. 1203–1210.