The environment: A natural remedy for mental ill-health

source : Open Access Government

published : 10 March 2021

Jennifer Oroilidis from Mental Health Europe probes why the environment is a natural remedy for mental ill-health. The natural environment is one of the key determinants concerning mental health.

In past years, research has increasingly highlighted the interplay between both. Given the overwhelming evidence of nature’s positive impact on mental wellbeing, tackling environmental degradation can offer win-win solutions to rising numbers of mental health problems and the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

The pandemic adds a heightened urgency for policy-makers to integrate environmental solutions with mental health policies that promote a better future for European citizens.

Environmental degradation poses a threat to mental health

Research by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) shows that environmental degradation can have a profound negative effect on citizens’ mental wellbeing.

Climate anxiety – psychological distress about the future due to climate change – puts a strain on many people’s mental health. The studies also show that extreme weather events, acute weather conditions, and chronic long-term weather changes can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

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