The simple act of stepping outdoors into nature can have profound impacts on one’s mental health. This may seem farfetched, but it’s true. Research has continuously proven that immersion in nature-filled settings can reduce levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. From the soothing feeling of a cool breeze to the refreshing scent of flowers and trees, nature heals all.

Therapy is out. Nature is in. Various research articles have documented the healing impact of being in nature, highlighting it as an effective means of reducing one’s level of stress and enhancing their mood. A study in Environmental Science & Technology found that those who spent two or more hours per week in natural environments reported substantially lower levels of anxiety and depression. They did this by measuring a person’s stress levels towards the beginning of their day, then later allowed them to reconnect with nature and measured their stress levels after the time spent outdoors. They discovered that engaging with nature also contributes to a sense of connectedness and belonging in the world — both important components of mental well-being. Activities such as walking, gardening, and mountain hiking all require mindfulness and physical movement. This in turn creates a healthier mindset by increasing endorphins and allowing people to decompress. Moreover, the natural world offers a chance to be free from the overwhelming stimulation associated with urban life and allows one to unplug and re-engage with oneself. 

Restorative effects of nature upon mental health are not anecdotal but find substantial scientific evidence. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that access to green spaces reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, while at the same time improving a general sense of well-being. “Forest bathing, a simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, is associated with a number of markers of well-being. Many research studies have proven that nature stimulates a pleasure point in the brain,” said Mr. Daniel McNickle, an Advanced Placement Psychology teacher at the Bronx High School of Science. Furthermore, one seminal study by researchers at the University of Exeter found that residents living in areas with more green spaces reported much lower levels of mental distress. In fact, this prospective study, which followed participants over five years, showed that proximity to natural environments was associated with better mental health outcomes. Additionally, green spaces allow individuals to decelerate their pace, take deeper breaths, and restore inner calm. 

Time spent in nature enhances creativity and cognitive function. Recent studies published in Nature Mental Health show that exposure to natural environments advances creative thinking and problem-solving. Natural environments allow the brain to enter a state of “soft fascination” where attention is turned to views and sounds entering from the environment, rather than powerful stimuli coming from modern technology. In this relaxed state of the brain, it is free to wander and make new connections, thus allowing creativity and new, original thought. For burnt-out, cognitive-fatigued, and information-overloaded individuals, nature allows them to reset their minds.

This restitution of cognitive functioning is not mere theory, for there are empirical studies that have documented the findings. Researchers have found that even small, regular doses of nature-exposure, such as taking a walk through a park during a lunch break, help to improve working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attentional capacity. Indeed, given the fast-paced and technology-driven lifestyles that erase one’s mental sharpness through continuous multitasking, the positive effects of nature on cognitive functioning are highly relevant today. The soothing environment of nature provides a form of cognitive restoration where the brain can recover from fatigue and further build up resilience against future stressors. In this regard, nature is an invaluable tool not only in maintaining mental health but also in improving work performance and academic achievement. 

Now, therapies based on nature are increasingly considered viable mental health interventions. Ecotherapy-nature-infused therapies, which are loosely structured activities, such as walking along the beach or going for a hike in a forested area, have had quite impressive results in treating individuals with everything from stress and anxiety to depression and PTSD. Techniques that fall under the heading of ecotherapy include the practice of wilderness therapy, horticultural therapy, and the Japanese forest bathing. Such therapies encourage people to be fully immersed in nature and utilize the calming and restorative powers of nature for their recoveries. Examples include forest bathing involves walking in a forest and observing sights, sounds, and smells with awareness. It has been proven to decrease cortisol, lower blood pressure, and improve mood. While traditional talk therapy focuses primarily on verbal expression, ecotherapy engages both the senses and the body, allowing holistic and non-verbal ways of processing emotions.

Evidence for nature-based therapies has been increasingly encouraging, especially regarding children and adolescents. The Children and Nature Network reports that unstructured outdoor play and time in nature increases creativity, improves mood, and reduces symptoms of ADHD. Children who are frequently in green spaces demonstrate better emotional resilience, therefore being able to handle stress more easily. Some schools and institutions of learning have integrated outdoor learning with other nature activities to ensure support for mental health and cognitive growth in their student population. Such programs provide students a break from screens and stress, instead offering hands-on, action-based learning that guarantees physical and emotional wellbeing. Furthermore, studies have shown that time spent outdoors during childhood has long-term positive effects on mental health, such that children who experienced green-space exposure were found to have significantly lower odds of developing mental health disorders as adults.

Another area of expansion within the realm of environmental studies is the potential role of nature in treating mental health in a non-intensive yet low-cost way compared to more traditional options. This makes treatments like those under discussion far more attractive, especially given the rising prevalence of mental health disorders worldwide, particularly in areas that are rapidly becoming more urbanized. Such therapies are holistic approaches to healing that do not depend on costly medications or invasive clinical interventions. Additionally, they are associated with few, if any, adverse side effects. Because ecotherapy and other natural immersion approaches are accessible to diverse populations, this form of therapy can support traditional approaches to mental health or can be used independently.

Overall, I firmly believe that time spent in nature positively impacts people’s mental conditions. For my part, I found out that immediately after going outdoors within the landscape and flora surroundings, my body and mind are automatically soothed. Nature provides conditions that truly make one feel serene and leisurely, whether you take a simple park walk, hike in the woods, or just relax beside a lake. Being in nature is a restoring balance for me and allows me to let go of some of the stresses and hustle-and-bustle activity of daily life. Research backs up my personal experience that time spent outside can improve mood, lower anxiety, and enhance general wellbeing. When I am in nature, I am completely present, and it is a good method of dealing with bad thoughts and emotional burdens. All that needs to happen is for me to take in fresh air, listen to the chirps of birds, or just any beauty around, and my head clears up in a brand new light about life. I really do believe in the healing powers of nature and find it an absolute necessity when it comes to keeping good mental health; this alone is a very good reason to support the idea of increasing our daily time outdoors for the good of our well-being.

“Forest bathing, a simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, is associated with a number of markers of well-being. Many research studies have proven that nature stimulates a pleasure point in the brain,” said Mr. Daniel McNickle, an Advanced Placement Psychology teacher at the Bronx High School of Science.